Josephine D Zarro

July 19, 1936 - February 22, 2022

"Josephine" "Jo" "Mrs. Z" "Dr. Z" "Jo Momma" "G-ma" "OG-Ma" "Big Z" Josephine DePasquale Zarro, born in July 1936 of Italian immigrants from Sicily and Calabria, went peacefully to eternal life, surrounded by her children, on February 22, 2022, as if she cleverly planned to do so on the palindrome: TWOsday, 2-22-22. Josephine is the oldest of seven siblings. She is preceded by her husband, Thomas (Gaetano) “Tommy” Joseph Zarro (1927-2003) and her younger sisters, Mildred Surman and Nancy Carmiche. Josephine is survived by her eldest child, Michael Thomas Zarro and his wife Tina Zarro; Maria Zarro-Anaya and her former spouse, Fernando Anaya, and her partner, James William Coleman, II; and Diana Zarro-Martinez and her husband, Steven Martinez. She is also survived by her grandchildren, her first, Stephanie Zarro Avanessian and her husband, Vacheh Avanessian; Joseph Zarro and his wife, Sara; Matthew Zarro and his partner, Maggie Clark; Natalie Zarro Anaya; Jacqueline Zarro Anaya; Mitchell Zarro Martinez; and Adam Zarro Martinez. Her great-grand children, Lucille Avanessian; Nathan Zarro; Amy Avanessian, Ellie Zarro; and Juliette Avanessian also are survived by Josephine. Josephine was born in the First Italian Ward in Newark, New Jersey, where she lived on the same street as her husband’s family on Garside Street. She later married her childhood sweetheart, Tommy, in September of 1954, after Josephine graduated Valedictorian from Barringer High School. One year later, the couple produced their first child, Michael Thomas, September 1955, and drove out to the west coast of the South Bay in California. Jo and Tom managed Torrance apartment buildings upon first arriving in California, then Josephine found employment as a secretary for Douglas Aircraft, where Tom followed shortly as a heat treatment engineer. A decade later, two girls, Maria Elena, and Diana Marie, 15 months apart, completed the family. Soon, Josephine was yearning for more education and to fulfill her childhood dream of being a teacher. She began her journey at Harbor College, where she earned an A.A. in Liberal Arts, then transferred to California State University Dominguez Hills where she doubled majored in English Literature and Theatre. She quickly fell in love with literature, the stage, and acting. She often spent time acting in college plays and cast her young daughters in child roles since Jo was the only student with children. Josephine continued her higher education and earned her secondary teaching credential in English and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, writing, directing, acting, and producing original plays, while teaching at her first position at Compton High School. The Zarros lived in their first purchased home on Denker Avenue, commonly known as, "The Strip." Prayer and spirituality were very important in Jo's life and she looked forward to celebrating Mass on Sunday mornings. She was godmother to her niece, Sallie Ann, her best friend, Karis Say, and Karis' son, Jerome Say. Jo, with her family, found a spiritual home at Nativity Catholic Church: Michael attended Nativity School; the girls were both baptized at Nativity -- blessing them both with extended families with the Montenegros, who lived three houses down the street, and the Santellas, who lived just a short distance in south Torrance; and both the California Zarro patriarch and matriarch gloriously sang with Nativity's award-winning choir, lead by Mr. Roman. Each year she had the wonderful opportunity to perform at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hermosa Beach, with the "Roman Choir." Seventeen years later, Jo and Tom moved the family to Lomita, where they finished raising their children and made the Zarro home an open house to the entire neighborhood and friends. Once again, Jo found another spiritual family at St. Margaret Mary's Church in Lomita where she was extremely active. For decades, Christmas Eve Midnight Mass became a tradition followed by the traditional fried fish meal. Jo looked forward to singing and praising His name with her church gals, Pearl Martinez and Lily Montenegro. Later, when Jo was not able to transport herself to Mass, her daughter, Diana, happily accommodated her and a new tradition of Sunday breakfast after Mass was born. Sunday dinner tradition was upheld for decades and anyone who stopped by the home was always welcomed. "Jo-momma" was revered as everyone's momma and she treated everyone as such. Jo and Tom were very active members of the small-town Lomita community as well as the Church. Jo's outstanding spiritual presence translated to the volunteering at Lomita Park functions, and managing her daughters' softball teams while Tom and Michael coached. Here was another area that life-long bonds were made with the Barr, the Coburn, the Larson, the Tolliver, and the Vida families. After every season, Cindy Blount and the rest of the Lomita Park staff, looked forward to Jo-momma's homemade lasagna at the banquets. Josephine wore so many hats throughout her life. After teaching at Compton High School, Josephine landed a position at Stephen M. White Junior High School in Carson where she taught English and drama, attended Sports Nights, Renaissance fairs, and chaperoned snow skiing trips for her students. Ms. Z was loved by all who came into contact with her. She taught junior high school until she made the move to Manual Arts High School for the 1979-80 academic year. Here Josephine made some of the most differences in students’ lives. Josephine was not only an English teacher, but headed up journalism and drama, and even ran the printing presses for the school’s weekly newspaper when the industrial arts program was dropped. She often hosted swimming parties for her Manual Arts students at her home in Lomita where some of these students learned to swim for the first time. Josephine, at the age of 68, graduated from University of Southern California with her Doctorate in Education – the oldest graduate in her class. She then became an assistant principal at Banning High School in Wilmington where she was tasked with re-organizing the school into small learning communities: Dr. Zarro was very successful with this project and, once again, was loved by all who crossed her path. Josephine transferred to San Pedro High School as assistant principal where her two granddaughters, Natalie and Jacqueline, attended and graduated. Once again, “G-ma” was the “Old School Grandma” of the high school and beloved. After serving 44 years, Josephine retired from Los Angeles Unified School District. She continued to volunteer for the District by participating in essay readings, coordinating efforts, and testing proctoring. Josephine spent the rest of the decade after retirement being the “OG Grandma,” and great-grandma, hosting her grandchildren’s pool parties, living accommodations, and just “being there” for her family. Anyone who met Josephine was immediately attracted to her energy, her spirit, her brutal honesty, and her transparent kindness that shown through her rough, Sicilian, wooden-spoon-wielding exterior. One of a kind, a pioneer, and leaving a strong, cultured, and successful legacy, Josephine will be forever missed by all. Vigil will be held at Green Hills Mortuary, Rancho Palos Verdes, Thursday, March 10: Visitations are from 4:00PM to 6:30PM; and a Celebration of Life from 7:00PM to 8:00PM will follow at St. Margaret Mary Church' St. Joseph Center (just west of the church in the same lot), 25511 Eshelman Ave, Lomita, CA. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2:00PM at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church, 25511 Eshelman Ave, Lomita, CA, followed by a grave-side service at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275.