Josephine Screpesi

Josephine (Rinaldi) Screpesi, 94, a guest of Berks Heim for seven months, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She had waged a courageous fifty-year-long battle with seven primary cancers, but she never surrendered to the disease. She remained positive to the last and never lost her unique sense of humor. Her favorite saying was, "You make your own fun."

"Josie" was predeceased by her husband of sixty-four years, Frank, in 2008. She survived the deaths of her three sisters: Mary (Mitchell), Rose (Hertzog), and Amelia (Hiester), and the recent death of her devoted niece, Flroence (Mitchell) Carey.

For more than twenty years, Josie and Frank were co-owners and operators of the A & F Screpesi's Luncheonette at 800 North Thirteenth Street, directly across from Reading High School. Their sandwich shoppe became Reading's version of the diner in the long-running television show, "Happy Days." For years after they sold the store, a group of their former clientele, invited them to attend reunion parties which they loved. Josie and Frank were honored to be remembered for their proprietorship of that special Readhing High "institution". Josie was also a fixture at the Sweet Street Cafe for years after their business closed.

Josephine is survived by her daughters: Diane, wife of Gerald Miller; and Kathleen, wife of John Boccabella; four grandchildren, Alexis Boccabella, wife of David McLain; Todd Boccabella, husband of Norma Mejia; Mindy (Miller) Brudereck, wife of Brandon Tanner; and Nicolas Boccabella, husband of Stacy Shanning. There are also ten great-grandchildren: Kylie, Emmi and Ainsley McLain; Emilio, Lorenzo; and Nico Boccabella; William and Maggie Brudereck; and Siena and Leonel Boccabella.

Josie's family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the staff of the A-1 Unit of Berks Heim, whose kindnesses and professionalism made her end of life care a dignified and loving process. Also many thanks to her many doctors and caregivers over the years, and a special "Thank You" to the nursing staff at the Reading Hospital Infusion Center.

Friends may call on Sunday, October 8th, 2017, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Church, 237 Franklin Street, Reading, PA 19602 on Monday October 9th, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104 or Holy Rosary Church at the above address. Online condolences may be made to www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.