Josephine Mary Dittmann

Josephine Mary Dittmann, 98, of Venice, Florida 

Passed away peacefully on December 17th at Village on the Isle Hospice Home in Venice, FL. Josephine was living at Advinia Care in Venice, FL for the past few months. She lived at Venetian Gardens in Venice from December 2022 to May 2024 and in 1999, to be closer to where her daughter Stephanie’s programs were including day services and Special Olympics they moved from North Port to Venice Isles in Venice, FL. 

Born January 7, 1926, in West Haven, CT to Luigi and Ida Clini, Josephine is the last of their eight children who were known to all the family as “The Great Eight”:  Gino, Aldo, Patsy, Rosie (Peterson), Emma (Cuzzocreo), Louie and Bruno. 

Josephine is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Irving Dittmann, Jr.  She is survived by her son, Irving (Kathy) Dittmann, III, of Woodbridge, CT, daughters Laurie-Jean (Bob) Hannon, of North Haven, CT and Stephanie Dittmann of Venice, FL.  She had great fortune to be the grandmother of seven and the great grandmother of fourteen children.  

After graduation from West Haven High School in 1944, Josephine started working at Chamberlin Furniture Store in New Haven. This is where she met her husband. After having children, she went to work for Wayside Furniture and then went on to work at her sister’s family business, Orange Fence Company. She was never still, she would be sewing, knitting, baking, making dinner, organizing the Loveland Jewelry Show for over 20 years, (now known as the Hearts Up for IDD); attending Al-Anon meetings and was always a strong supporter of all programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities including Special Olympics, Loveland and The Havens.  A true fighter for her daughter and others with down syndrome and Fragile X.  Josephine was dedicated to all her children but especially Stephanie, which is why she spent decades assuring that children with special needs were accepted and had every opportunity available to them. This led her to many volunteer leadership roles and recognitions with the Greater New Haven ARC. 

Calling hours on Saturday, December 21, will be from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. followed by a prayer service at 11:00 a.m. at Farley Funeral Home and Crematory, 265 South Nokomis Ave., Venice, FL. 

The burial will be at a later date. A memorial mass will be held at St. Barnabas Church in North Haven, CT on Saturday, January 11th at 11:00 a.m. 

Josephine’s favorite prayer which she believed truly saved her and her family is one she always hoped everyone should learn and remember: 

“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.”