Josephine Markferding

Our angel on earth, Josephine Yolanda (Yocca) Markferding, made her heavenly homecoming on March 21, 2023 (the twenty-eighth anniversary of her husband's death) after a long and loving life of nearly 101 years. Josephine was born in Windber, PA, one of ten children, to the late Nicola and Assunta (Palumbo) Yocca, immigrants from the Abruzzi region of Italy. She was joyfully married to Joseph Leo Markferding (of Conemaugh Borough) for fifty years prior to his passing in 1995. Together they raised four wonderful sons.

Preceded in death by the love of her life, husband Joe; her son, John (d. 2022); and eight of her nine siblings: Eugene, Raymond, Nick, and Florence Yocca, Olga LaPlaca, Hilda Amodei, Mary Stevens, and Gloria Bevilaqua. Survived by her sons: Dennis, David, and Joseph; her brother: Dr. John Yocca; eight grandchildren: Jennifer, Damian and wife Jamie, Jackie, Joey, Josephine, Katie, David, and Daniel; six great-grandchildren, and her beloved long-term caregiver, Mary.

Josephine was a devout Catholic and member of Our Mother of Sorrows, whose life-long focus was serving her Lord and family. She was the Yocca family matriarch for decades and maintained close contact with her nieces and nephews long after the passing of their parents, and her siblings.

As a teen, she learned to play the accordion, and combined talents with three friends to create an all-accordion, all-girl band, The Minerettes. She loved sacred and secular music and loved singing along to hymns, show songs, and country music. She was known for cooking feasts and loved for her cinnamon rolls and pizzelles. She will be remembered for her kind heart, clever sense of humor, and positive spirit to the very end. Rest in peace, sweet Josephine. You surely hold a place of honor in heaven. 

Friends and family will be received at Frank Duca Funeral Home, Westmont Chapel, 1622 Menoher Blvd. Johnstown PA 15905 on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 from 10:00 - 11:30 AM, with Funeral Service to follow at the funeral home, Fr. Aron Maghsoudi. Entombment, Grandview Cemetery. 

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