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Josephine Ann Hermann, born to Joseph and Diana (Cianciolo) Busalacchi on Feb. 1, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away Feb. 4 at age 91.

Josephine “Jo” was the youngest of five siblings, two brothers and two sisters. The Busalacchi name was well respected in Milwaukee. Her father owned a large spaghetti factory before the depression. One brother was a police captain and the other brother was a mailman and then owner of an Italian food store. With many relatives in the area, Jo grew up with a large family. She met her husband Ralph Joseph Hermann, Sr., an award-winning music composer, arranger, and conductor also from Milwaukee, in 1948. They married in 1949.

After the birth of their first daughter Jeanne, her husband’s profession took them to Manhattan to continue his talents as staff arranger for NBC and then ABC. He worked with some of the big names in the music business, such as Jimmy Dorsey, Patti Page, and Doc Severinsen. They moved to Great Neck, Long Island, in 1951, where shortly after a son, Ralph Hermann, Jr., was born. In 1957, they built a large home in Plandome Manor (Manhasset, New York), where a third child, Elizabeth, was born.

Josephine had a passion, besides raising her children, for football and pets. Her nephew, Chuck Mercein, after graduating from Yale, went on to play for the New York Giants, and then the Green Bay Packers. “People used to come to our house, not only to watch the game, but also to watch Mom throw herself against the wall when Chuck carried the ball, especially during the Super Bowl that he was in,” says son Ralph. “I remember when we had half of the New York Giants at our house for my cousin’s daughter’s christening. Mom couldn’t keep up with the food. Our house was always open to anyone,” says Ralph.

After a number of years, and after the passing of her husband in 1994, Josephine moved to the Saybrook at Haddam, an assisted living association where she spent the rest of her life. She is survived by her loving children Jeanne McGowan of Essex, Ralph Hermann, Jr., and wife Pat also of Essex, and Lisa McFarland and husband Tom of Massapequa Park, New York; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Josephine was predeceased by her two brothers and two sisters. Her final resting place will be at the Knolls Cemetery next to her husband in Port Washington, New York. Arrangements were made by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook. A Mass will be held in honor of Josephine at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Essex at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Essex.