GUILDERLAND – Josephine Mary “Dimples” Guerra Vanstone, 83, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Teresian House in Albany, NY. Jo was many things to many people: a kind and loving mother, sister, daughter, Yia-Yia, wife, aunt, cousin, companion, friend, problem solver, dream maker and wish-fullfiller. In all the many roles she assumed, one constant was her overwhelming desire to help people in any way she could using any resources available to her. She will be greatly missed.
Josephine’s interests and hobbies included cooking, travel, golf, slot machines, animals, holidays, the ocean, horse racing at Saratoga, and long early morning walks on the beach. She was born in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from John Adams High School. She attended some college before working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where she met her future husband, LTJG John, who she married in 1959. Josephine had a long and successful career helping people as a financial planner. When she retired, she split her time between summers in Albany, and winters in Palm Coast, FL.
Jo is survived by her companion Bob Cory; children Darlene Vanstone (Bill Holmes) and Johnny Vanstone (Terri); and grandson Stephen Holmes. Jo was predeceased by her husband John; and by her parents Ann (Labiento) and Caesar Guerra.
The family would like to thank all of the wonderful people who have helped make Josephine’s last days as comfortable as possible, especially the healthcare professionals at St. Peter’s Hospital, Daughters of Sarah, and Teresian House.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in All Saints Catholic Church, 16 Homestead St., Albany (behind CVS) Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Entombment will be in Memory Gardens, Colonie.
Those who wish may make a contribution in Jo’s memory to the Estherville Animal Shelter, 100 Russell Rd, Greenfield Center, NY 12833. To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Giovanni Labbiento
Our condolences to the entire Family.
Josephine very interested in knowing her ancestors contacted me in the early 2000 because she saw my name on the Net and it coincided with one stream of her ancestors on the mother side: Labbiento.
Through several email exchanges, she inculcated in me the love and interest for the genealogy and convinced me to continue the search for the Labbiento branch, which I was able to push back to the 1651, when our common ancestor Donatus del Abiento , son of Petrus Abiento, from Mento Corvino (prov. Salerno) , master mason, went to Bagnoli to help reconstruct the Church that had burned down in February of that year. He married and that was the beginning of the Abiento stream (Abiento, del Abiento, Abbiento end finally the modern Labbiento). I have helped her in securing documents or translating them from Italian (old Italian) and Latin to English.
A great Lady and a very dear Friend, every Xmas we would exchange phone calls and discuss our findings.
I am very sad for the loss and offer words of support to the daughter Darlene whom I met with my wife when visiting and meeting Josephine for the first time in 2014 (if I remember correctly) when she was with Darlene and we were in the Boston area.
Courage! She lives in your hearts, in your memories and she watches you and protects you from Heaven! A mass was celebrated for her soul in Bagnoli Irpino (prov. Avellino, Italy) where our ancestors were born, lived and died. She visited Bagnoli in 2007, and I am very happy that she was able to meet a distant cousin!
Again, she is in our prayers.
Giovanni e Anna Maria Labbiento
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lynn O'Connell
Wonderful tribute! So sorry for you loss!
David Surette
Darlene, We are all thinking of you and your family through this tough time. You have our deepest condolences. May Josephine live on in your memories.
Karen Hopkins
Dear Darlene, John, Marie and Bill,
There are no words to describe how much Jo meant to me for so many years. I will continue to miss her always and I hope she obtains the peace she so very deserves. My heart aches with the thought of not seeing her. May God protect her always.
Elissa Faulkner
Darlene and Family,
Sending comforting thoughts as you mourn. Prayers that Josephine is in a wonderful, peaceful place, happily communing with loved ones who have gone before.
Mark Lobo
Darlene and Family –
Our deepest condolences on Josephine’s passing. We are thinking and praying for you all during this time as you mourn. Peace, light and love.
The Lobo family.
Joanne & Richard Moshman
We are so saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend Jo. She was a truly wonderful, caring,loving person. We were so fortunate to have her in our lives. Words can not express how much she will be missed . Forever in our thoughts & hearts.
Lex Brownstein and family
Our deepest condolences to Johnny, Terri, and Darlene and your families. No one is truly gone if their name is still spoken by the ones they left behind.