Josephine "JoJo" A. (Ippolito) Thomas entered into eternal rest Friday evening, November 5 ^th 2021, at Brigham and Women's Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was 59 years of age.  Josephine has been residing in Saugus for the past 20 years, but she was formerly of Chelsea, where she was born and raised. Josephine attended Chelsea Public Schools and graduated from Chelsea High School, Class of 1980.  Josephine took great pride in being a Chelsea Public School employee, her 3 children, and always cooking and baking.  Josephine's greatest joy was just always having her family around her.  She was an amazing mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt. Her unconditional love and the self-esteem she willed into her children will linger on through the generations.

Josephine is the daughter of the late James & Frances (Cimino) Ippolito. Josephine is survived by her daughters Karrisa Thomas of Chelsea, Danielle Thomas and her boyfriend Derek Cooke of Saugus, and Samantha Thomas and her boyfriend Thomas Hagerty of Saugus. Loving Grandmother of Keegan England, former wife of Paul Thomas of Everett. Dear sister to Frances DiMare of Melrose, James Ippolito of Peabody, Robert Ippolito of Everett and the late Rocco and William Ippolito.  Dear sister-in-law of Daniel DiMare, Phaedra Ippolito, Katherine Ippolito, and Dominic D'Alleva.  Loving aunt, of Joseph DiMare, Anthony DiMare, James Ippolito, Robert Ippolito, Sabrina Ippolito, Joshua Keilty, and loving god-daughter Adriana D'Alleva-Keilty. Proud great aunt to Rocco Anthony Keilty. Loving Niece of Nancy DiCecca.

Josephine always had a smile on her face and opened her home to all. She loved to cook for an army of people. Being the only two girls in the family of six children Fran and Josephine shared the strongest sisterly bond. She was the godmother of Fran's daughter, Adriana, who she considered to be another daughter, and she was not shy about letting everyone know that she was her favorite niece. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Josephine's visiting hours at the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., CHELSEA, on Thursday, November 11 ^th from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M.  Funeral from the funeral home on Friday at 9:00 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish, Our Lady of Grace, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea at 10:00 A.M.  Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Josephine's memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or on-line at www.dana-farber.org

For the protection of the public health, we kindly ask those not vaccinated to please wear a mask or facial covering.  Masks are optional for all those vaccinated.