DEXTER, NY — Josephine H. Adams, 65, Dexter, NY passed away Monday, January 21, 2019, at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Sept. 22, 1953, in Oswego, NY, a daughter of Rosaria and Benedetto Manasseri. She was the youngest of five siblings Rosalia Secor, Benedetta (Michael) Harrington, Catherine Pullen (Thomas), and Anthony (Mary Ann Lynch Manasseri. She graduated from Oswego High School in 1971.
She continued her education in Oswego and graduated from Oswego State in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While attending Oswego State she was an active member of Phi Lamb Sorority and still shares a special bond with her “sister.” She finished her graduate studies at Oswego in 1980 with a master’s degree in reading education.
After graduation she had several temporary teaching positions before finding her home in the Watertown School District. Her impact on fellow teachers and students was great and wide spread as she worked in Case, Meade, North Ohio, Sherman, Starbuck, Wiley and Sacred Heart. Quite often simultaneously in more than one school at a time. In addition to the reading recovery certification she obtained her tenure she also taught many workshops for both PBS and Jefferson Lewis BOCES. She retired in March 2009 to spend more time with her family. Her love and passion for teaching would not go away completely and she continued to teach workshops for Jefferson Lewis BOCES and teach church school for St. Elizabeth Seton where she was a member.
She married the love of her life Michael R. Adams at First Presbyterian Church in Oswego, NY, on Nov. 28, 1980. A reception followed at the Eiss House in Mexico, NY. In marriage she gained two sisters Deb (James) Adams-Kaden, Huntington Station, and Susan (Donald) Haller, Dexter, and loving in-laws Richard & Patricia Adams. The couple lived their entire married life in the home they built together on Pillar Point. Since their retirement it has been harder to find them home. They loved to travel and went away for “mud season” every spring. Americade every summer, and just recently went on a 10 day Alaskan cruise. Josephine often said no matter where I go I realize how spoiled I am because we live in the most beautiful place on earth.
She is survived by her 3 children John Adams (Rachel) of St. Charles, MO, Christopher Adams (Michele) of Brandon, FL, and Serena Beach (Jesse) of Dexter, NY. They have 5 beautiful grandchildren Rebeka, Preston, Kaysen, Grant and Micah. She also shared a special bond with her grand dog Kayla. She was blessed to have 16 nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews which she was very close to.
She had many interests and somehow found time for all of them. She loved to read, crochet, garden, kayak, ride bikes, snow shoe, cross country ski; spend time on the water and going for walks. She was also very active within the Catholic Church acting as a lecture and a church school teacher. What she loved most was her time spent with family and friends. Her weekly card games with her mother-in-law, her frequent visits to her hometown to spend time with family including the annual apple picking with her sisters and nieces, their trips to see her children and family out of town, the weekly trips to “the lodge” during hunting season, her many adventures with her daughter, and too many more wonderful memories to count. One of her favorite sayings was “who has more fun than us/”
“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than we leave behind.”—C.S. Lewis
She was preceded by her parents Rosaria and Benedetto Manasseri, her father-in-law Richard Adams, niece Lisa Secor, nephew and godson Scott Harrington, and brother-in-law Thomas Pullen.
A funeral Mass will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at Immaculate Conception Church 119 West Main St. Brownville, NY. There will be no calling hours. A private burial will be held at a later date. A celebration of life will immediately follow at the Brownville American Legion, 101 Washington St., Brownville, NY.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in her honor to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
Arrangements are with Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter.
Online condolences may be made at dexterfuneralhome.com.
