Josephine L. (Bruno) Pansa, 90, of Bristol, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. She was the beloved wife of Andrew A. Pansa for 63 years. Born in Bristol, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Assunta (Santillo) Bruno.

Josephine graduated from Bristol’s Colt Memorial High School in 1936 and Johnson and Wales Business School in 1938. Upon graduation, she taught shorthand and typing there for four years working with Miss Johnson. She then worked at U.S. Rubber in Bristol for several years prior to her marriage.

Fulfilling her lifelong dream, when her children were older, she returned to school and earned a bachelor of arts degree in education and history with honors from the University of Rhode Island in 1973. She served as a substitute teacher in the Bristol and Tiverton school systems for eight years.

Josephine was very active in her church and community. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol, she served as a CCD teacher, secretary of the Rosary and Altar Society and a member of the annual OLMC 16th of July Feast Committee. She was regent of the Hope Circle, Daughters of Isabella and served as chancellor of the State Circle of the Daughters of Isabella. She was a member of the annual Columban Fathers Bazaar Committee, the Nocturnal Adoration Society, and the East Bay First Friday Club.

For 10 years at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, she provided weekly instruction in Italian for elementary school children. Josephine served for 15 years as a docent at the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, was treasurer of the Bayberry Garden Club and was a member of the Bristol Historical and Preservation Society and the Friends of Linden Place.

In 1992, Josephine was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Leonardo DaVinci Lodge, Sons of Italy. In 1997, she and her husband served as chief marshals for the 16th of July Feast Celebration in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

In addition to her husband, she was the beloved mother of Thomas P. Pansa and his wife, Patti, of San Jose, Calif., Andrew S. Pansa of Bristol, and Leonard F. Pansa and his wife, Nancy, of East Longmeadow, Mass.; cherished grandmother of Rebecca Gill, Travis and Heather Shoaf, and Jennifer, Drew and Emily Pansa, and great-grandmother of Aiden Gill and Christopher and Morgan Shoaf. She leaves behind a sister, Dottie Campagna of Bristol, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death in addition to her parents, by a brother, Anthony Bruno, and sisters, Grace Sousa and Pauline DeSantis.

Funeral services are at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, from Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood St., Bristol, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State St, Bristol. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol. Visiting hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, 127 State St., or to the Bristol Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 775, Bristol, RI 02809. For online condolence and shared memory books, information and directions, go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com.