Topsfield/Shrewsbury – Josephine (Contilli) Galli, 88, most recently of Topsfield, and a long-time Shrewsbury resident, passed away Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, with her loving family close by, at Woodbriar of Wilmington Nursing & Rehabilitation after a short illness.
Josephine was born in Bussi, Italy and raised in Popoli, Italy. She was the daughter of Davide and Pierina (Cilla) Contilli. As a teenager, she trained as a seamstress and later headed her own dress-making establishment. She married John Galli and, three years later, left Italy to reside with him permanently in the United States, first in Worcester, and then raising their family and living in Shrewsbury from 1960 until they moved in with their daughter Gabriella's family in Topsfield in 1998.
Josephine used her sewing skills to the benefit of her friends and family, and explored other creative endeavors, including ceramics and traditional Italian cuisine.
She had an infectious smile and a deep love for her family and her faith. Through hard work and dedication, Josephine and John raised three children, Vincent, Gemma, and Gabriella, and had the satisfaction of seeing them all graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Josephine took pride in being an excellent homemaker, meticulous in her housekeeping, and savvy in money management. She made friends easily, and enjoyed participating in organized groups such as the Shrewsbury Women's Club and, later, the Topsfield Council on Aging and their walking club.
Josephine was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, John Galli; her son, Vincent Galli; and her brothers, Aldo and Fermo Contilli. She leaves her daughter and son-in-law, Gemma Galli and David Guy of Walpole; her daughter and son-in-law, Gabriella and Edward Fitzgerald of Reading; her daughter-in-law, Jackie Galli of Austin, Texas; and four grandsons, Adam Galli of Houston, Texas, John Guy of Vancouver, British Columbia, Robert Fitzgerald of Norwalk, Connecticut, and Christopher Fitzgerald of New York City. In Italy, she leaves her brother and sister-in-law Tonino and Anna Contilli of Saronno; her sister-in-law, Adele Contilli of Rome; her sister-in-law, Angelina Contilli of Saronno; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ettore and Ida Galli of Rome; and numerous nephews and nieces. Here at home, she leaves friends in both the Topsfield and Worcester areas.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Mrs. Galli's family Thursday, Sept. 12, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., in the Britton Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, with burial following at Mountain View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial gifts may be given in Josephine's memory to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, 58 Progress Parkway, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, or a charity of their choice.
