Sunday, November 28, 2021
Josephine (Scalzi) Zinni, 95, of The Village at Waterman Lake, Greenville, RI passed away very peacefully to her Heavenly Home on November 24, 2021.
She was the beloved wife of the late Reverend Gene Zinni, founding Pastor of Praise Tabernacle Cranston, RI. She was born August 19, 1926 in Providence, daughter of the late Peter and Maria (Mazza) Scalzi.
Josephine worked at the Cranston Mirror before becoming a self-taught seamstress, sewing custom drapery for an Interior Decorator. She made all her granddaughter’s bridal gowns and their bridesmaids’ gowns, baking and decorating their wedding cakes. She also taught herself to play the piano and became the church pianist. After learning to swim in her 50’s she frequented the Cranston YMCA three or more times a week. She was a great supporter of the RI Dream Center and for many years made 50 sandwiches every week to feed the homeless.
She was the exemplary Pastor’s wife, cooking and entertaining visitors in their home. She was a soloist at many functions and especially her church where she was a very much loved First Lady. Every Sunday after attending church, her children their spouses and grandkids all gathered around her table to a feast of her special pasta sauce and meatballs.
Josephine is survived by her loving daughters, Pauline Cannistraci and her husband Phil of Putnam, Joanne Johnson and her husband Chuck of Cranston and Linda Cantone and her husband Joseph of Cranston. She was the cherished grandmother of 8, great-grandmother of 20 and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was the devoted sister of Catherine Ogrodnik also of The Village at Waterman Lake and Pierina Brunetti of Johnston. She was a loving aunt of many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by six sisters: Mary, Phyllis, Eve, Lena, Evangelina, Rose, two brothers, Vincent and Robert.
Her Funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 1st at 10 am in Praise Tabernacle, 330 Park Avenue Cranston, RI, followed by burial at Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown.
Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-7 pm at Praise Tabernacle.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The RI Dream Center.
Arrangements entrusted to Urquhart-Murphy Funeral Home, Warwick.
