Josephine Paolucci

On January 26, 2026 Josephine (Josie) Paolucci, 96 of Cohoes, New York, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at the Eddy Village Green Nursing Home.

Born and raised in Albany, Josie was the daughter of Joseph and Angelina (Sita) Garino and was one of four children. Josie graduated from Cathedral High School, Class of 1947 and went on to work for the State of New York as a Stenographer. It was during these years she found the love of her life, John, with whom she would share 75 devoted years of marriage.

Later in life Josie worked part-time as a clerk at Hal’s Crestwood Pharmacy and then at St. Peter’s Hospital in the Maternity Unit.

Josie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend. She was an extraordinary woman and an exceptional homemaker, whose family always felt her outpouring of love and affection upon them.

Her talents in the kitchen were unmatched. While her delicious meatballs and tomato sauce were favorites, she was best known for her remarkable baking. Her rugelach cookies and cream puffs are legendary!

She took great pride in sharing her cookies and recipes with everyone. Josie’s baking talents were featured in a Times Union article entitled, “Cookie Lady is sweet to everyone”. Most recently, a Hospice intern lovingly created a cookbook which included 75 of Josie’s favorite handwritten recipes. Staff members from both Hospice and the Eddy used the book to guide them through their holiday baking. This brought tremendous joy to her and all around her.

Josie enjoyed staying active and spent many years participating in aqua aerobics classes at the Jewish Community Center. She was a longtime member of the Italian American Community Center, where she was also known for her card playing skills. In addition, she volunteered at St. Catherine’s parish and Ronald McDonald House.

Josie is survived by her daughter Laura Paolucci Waterhouse (Jonathan), and her son John M. Paolucci (Marion). She was predeceased by her loving husband John A. Paolucci, her daughter-in-law Jill and her grandson Nicholas. She greatly cherished and will be dearly missed by her grandchildren Elizabeth Waterhouse (Lennart Dohms), Michael Paolucci and Daniel Paolucci.

Josie is also survived by her sisters-in-law Mimi Paolucci and Angie Riani, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Josie was predeceased by her sisters Frances Sindoni (Matthew) and Mary Amore (Primo) and her brother Anthony Garino (Madeline) and sisters and brothers-in-law, Joseph Paolucci (Helen), Pam Guiffre (Joseph), Albert Paolucci, Lucy Bremm (John), Thomas Paolucci (Barbara) and Barry Riani.

Her family extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Eddy Village Green, Community Hospice and Brookdale Senior Living for the exceptional care, respect and genuine love shown to Josie.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with a Mass of Christian Burial to immediately follow at 11:00 am on Monday, February 2, 2026 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church located at 122 Vliet Blvd, Cohoes NY 12047. Her interment will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery located at 48 Cemetery Ave. Menands, NY 12204.

To honor Josie’s life, the family kindly requests that anyone wanting to make a memorial contribution send it to Community Hospice or the Regional Foodbank.