Josephine Mary (Sicari) Gustafson

October 30, 1928 – March 21, 2025

Josephine Mary (Sicari) Gustafson, age 96, formerly of Erie, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Beverly, Massachusetts. Born on October 30, 1928, in Shinnston, WV, she was the beloved daughter of the late Frank P. and Lillian (Carapezza) Sicari.

Josephine was a proud graduate of East High School. At the age of 16, she discovered her passion for working in retail, a job she deeply enjoyed and remembered fondly throughout her life. Later, she devoted herself to raising her family and creating a warm and loving home. Known for her remarkable talents, she found great joy in sewing clothes for her loved ones and had a deep love for gardening, finding beauty in nurturing life.

Josephine was preceded in death by her husband, Roy S. Gustafson; her daughter, Michele Ann (Mario) Heubel; her great-granddaughter, Molly; her parents, Frank P. and Lillian Sicari; and her siblings, Annette, Pauline, Janet, and Dominick.

She is survived by her son, Sidney R. Gustafson; her daughter, Pamela (Stephen) Droney; her cherished grandchildren: Jennifer (Andrew) Rowley, Stephanie (Jake) Holbrook, Seth (Heather) Gustafson, and Landon Gustafson; and her treasured great-grandchildren: William, Emily, Josephine, Lucy, and Ethan. She is also lovingly remembered by her brother, Frank, her sisters, Nancy, Mary, and Judy, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Friday, June 20, 2025, from 11 am until the time of a Memorial Service there at 1 pm. Inurnment Laurel Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Josephine’s memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support research and patient care. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, or made online at dana-farber.org/gift.