Mrs. Josephine Murgo, age 98, of Franklin Court Assisted Living in Bristol, died peacefully on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Hattie Ide Chaffee Home. She was the loving wife of the late Michael Murgo, to whom she was married for 70 years until his passing in 2012.

Born in Bristol on Jan. 17, 1924, she was the loving daughter of the late Nicholas and Christine Abatantuono. Her family moved to Barrington where she was raised and later returned to Bristol where she resided for 80 years.

Mrs. Murgo was valedictorian of the 1942 graduating class at Barrington’s Peck High School. Her graduation speech focused on the opportunities for women in an industrialized society. She was an accomplished musician and artist. As a young woman and mother, she worked full time in clerical positions at US Rubber, Kaiser Aluminum, Carr’s Manufacturing, and Pearson Yachts while enrolling in her 40s in college evening courses, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She became chief accountant of the former Outlet Company and continued her education to become the first woman to attain a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bryant University — all while raising her family as a loving and supportive wife and mother.

In her 50s and 60s, Mrs. Murgo worked as a small business auditor for the Internal Revenue Service in Providence and Boston. She earned her CPA and taught classes in evening school. She was a master gardener, and after retiring, she and her husband had a backyard farm business for many years called Fruitful Vine and Farm, offering beautiful flower arrangements, wreaths, fruits, vegetables, and Christmas trees. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol, where she served as lector and head auditor into her 90s. Her strong faith guided her in life.

Mrs. Murgo will be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a role model extraordinaire. She was a tremendous supporter of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family in their academic and athletic endeavors. She cheered for her children and grandchildren at their high school and college football games, as well as at her grandchildren’s softball, volleyball, and basketball games, and wrestling meets, and was well known for her exuberance and passion in the stands.

Into her late 90s, Mrs. Murgo greatly enjoyed her wonderful friends in the bowling league at Dudek Lanes in Warren where she was a skilled bowler, her friends at Bristol Total Fitness, her beloved Scrabble and breakfast friends, and more recently her many dear friends at Franklin Court Assisted Living and her supportive friends Rita Medeiros and Debbie Goulart. She loved life and the people she met on her journey, and was gracious and kind to everyone.

Mrs. Murgo is survived by four children, Michael Murgo Jr. (Ellen), Emily Spinard (Edward), Gaetano Murgo (Donna), and Nicholas Murgo (Donna), 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law Caroline F. Murgo, and her two sisters Edith Chisholm of Barrington and Ann McCall of Ohio.

Her family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the compassionate and caring staff at Hattie Ide Chaffee Home and HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, March 18, 2022 from Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, RI at 9 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Mt. Carmel Church, 141 State St., Bristol. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol. Calling hours are Thursday, March 17, 4 – 7 p.m. The family respectfully requests wearing of masks during calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Josephine’s name may be made to HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, 1085 North Main St, Providence, RI 02904, or Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, 200 Wampanoag Trail, Riverside, RI 02915, or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, 127 State St, Bristol, RI 02809.

For obituary, online condolences, and directions please visit www.sansonefuneralhome.com