Josephine (Cobelo) Dame |
| Posted 2021-05-25 by mhenderson |
| Published in The Arizona Republic from May 7 to May 25, 2021 - Phoenix, Arizona >> Josephine Cobelo Dame << >> January 1, 1928 - January 24, 2021 (93) << Phoenix - "Jo" was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 1928 of a Spanish father who immigrated from Spain and mother whose parents had immigrated from Spain shortly before "Jo's" father. When Jo was around 13, the Cobelo family moved to the Tampa/Clearwater, Florida area. Josephine had aspirations of becoming a nurse from an early age. She attended high school and nursing school as a teen but because of allergies and asthma, it was decided that she would move to Arizona. At that time many people suffering from lung disease and T.B. were moving to the desert in hopes of a healthier life. So Jo graduated, packed up at age 17 (1946) and moved to Phoenix, Az. Arizona suited Jo's health as well as her independence and free spirit! She was accepted into Good Samaritan nursing school right away. But she was a little too free spirited and was caught smoking after which she was expelled! That did not stop her, though. She applied to St. Joseph's School of Nursing after about a year working as a nanny and waitress, enjoying the rodeos, riding horses as often as possible and letting her spirit go wild. She was accepted and dedicated herself from there on out to becoming the RN she had aspired to be for so long. Jo graduated from nursing school as an RN by early 1950 and went to work immediately. During that time, she met and married Robert J. Dame on November 11, 1950 after which she continued to work as an RN while having 4 children (Christine 1951, John 1953, Steven 1954, Richard 1956!) After Richard she took a hiatus from working for the next 8 years. In 1959, the family moved to Tucson where she raised her family. During that time she exposed her children to the fine arts and music. They would attend plays and musicals (even Shakespeare), concerts, and museums whenever possible. She loved to sing and whistle every morning while she did her housework. Her favorite (and life anthem) was a Doris Day song, "Que Sera, Sera." She eventually went back to her beloved nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital where she worked in L&D and later general medical for the next 25 years. She would thrill (or disgust) her children while at the dinner table with stories of her time delivering babies! (It's a nursing thing!) She worked wherever she went and later especially loved working with the vets during her time at the VA. Her independent spirit was inexhaustible. She made friends wherever she went and was involved in countless volunteer opportunities whether church related (Mother of Sorrows in Tucson), Meals on Wheels, or singing in the Tucson Symphony, taking classes at the college and doing jazzercise...she seemed tireless in all her efforts. She referred to herself frequently as a "flibbertigibbet" and everyone would agree! Jo retired from nursing around 1994 and started meeting many new friends. She even joined a "CB" club (WAY before cell phones!) She loved people and talking the most so she was in heaven! She loved keeping in touch with almost everyone she ever met, writing letters and cards, sending pictures and articles of interest she would cut out for her family or friends and would be thrilled when she received notes and pictures back. She loved traveling and learning and joined the "Elder Hostel" groups to visit different parts of the country. She loved driving (not having obtained a driver's license until age 35!) and would take road trips on her own, frequently, until she was around 85. She lived for a short time in Connecticut and would thrive on driving the country roads - herself and her little dog - meeting people and experiencing New England life close up. After Robert died in March of 2000, Josephine began a new, single life. She moved from Tucson to Prescott where she lived and thrived for 10 years. She loved her "old lady" water aerobics at the YMCA where she met several more friends. She spent most of her time with her BFF "Lola" who had been a nurse like her. Josephine moved back to Tucson after her memory started getting worse where she attempted to live on her own for a short time then moved in with her oldest son, John, and his wife, Hoa. As her dementia advanced, she would, sadly, forget the names of some of her children, but always remembered John's. She was happy no matter what was happening around her until John was struck by Covid-19 and died on January 10. Josephine was taken to Prescott to be with her son, Rick and passed away from Covid shortly after on January 24. Josephine is survived by three of her children...Christine D. Battilana (Ellen Battilana); Steven J. Dame (Katy Tash); Richard L. Dame (Joy Simcha Dame); grandchildren Adam and Aaron Bartholomew, Chelsea Lewis-Wacks (Craig), Jason Dame, Candida Dame, Larissa Repp and 10 great-grandchildren. She is interred at All Faiths cemetery in Tucson, Arizona. Josephine lived a long life...complicated at times but happy...well- lived...much loved...successfully...and her way all the way! She is so very missed. See Also: Find A Grave |
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