Josephine Caiola Gustin
Josephine Caiola Gustin, 89, born in Birmingham, AL, and resident of Dunwoody for 44 years, passed away on January 20, 2023, after a short illness.
She met her lifelong sweetheart, Ray Gustin, at John Carroll High School and was married to him for 67 years until his passing in 2020. She devoted her life to raising their four daughters.
Josephine was known affectionately as “Mama Jo” by all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very caring person, highly devoted to her family, and very involved in their lives. Jo was a fantastic cook and avid card player. She enjoyed going to the beach and mountains. With the American Cancer Society, she was a “Can Surmount” volunteer patient counselor.
Josephine will be dearly missed by her children, Terri (Mike) McKeever of Fairhope, AL; Cyndi (Robbie) White of Waleska, GA; Tina Griffin (Jim Selton) of Central, SC; and Jeniene (Frank) Mercer of Ocean Park, WA; her 7 grandchildren, Misty, Jamie, Natalie, Katie, Raymond, Stephen, and Mandy and their spouses; her 12 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Roslyn (Glenn) Bush and John (Sherrie) Caiola; and her sister-in-law Mary Rose Caiola.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Teresa Caiola, her husband Ray, and her brother Nate.
Her funeral will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, GA, on Friday, February 3 at 2PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
I may not have met Josephine but, I have heard so many happy family stories from her daughter and my friend, Jeniene. Many of the memory reactions would fill the room with laughter and warmth. Jeniene speaks lovingly of her mom and their family memories. I wish I could have known Mama Jo.
I lost my father in December 2020 and Jeniene lost her father a couple weeks later. I lost my mama in December 2022 and Jeniene lost Mama Jo a month later. I know they are all happy and free of any illness.
Sending love ❤️ to the family and I know that Josephine and Ray are dancing in the clouds together, forever. May You Rest Easy Josephine.