Josephine “Jo” Sharp

Josephine (Jo ) Sharp (Coletti) of Braintree passed away peacefully on December 31, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was 100 years old.

Born at home in Quincy, she was the daughter of the late George and Antoinette (Quintiliani) Coletti of Quincy. She was a 1942 graduate of Quincy High School and a 1945 graduate of Quincy City Hospital (QCH) school of nursing, where she earned her RN.  She met the love of her life Herbert (Herbie) while she was a student caring for his friend at the hospital. They married the following year a few months after her graduation from nursing school. They bought a home in Braintree where she’s lived ever since, raising their 3 children Alan, Nancy and Richard (Ricky).  After Ricky’s birth she became a stay at home mom but found time to volunteer, as she believed strongly in serving the community and helping others . Those organizations and activities included the league of women voters in Braintree, working as a census taker, working the polls during town elections, the Red Cross, Pine Street Inn, Father Bill’s in Quincy, the Braintree DAV, numerous local food pantries and she also sponsored a child in Ecuador all the way through high school. Her Church, the Emmanuel Parish Episcopal, was an integral part of her life. She would go every Sunday until she was unable to attend due to health reasons. In the evenings she loved doing crossword puzzles, knitting, watching game shows and reading.  Her favorite sports teams were the Red Sox and Patriots. When someone needed the assistance of a nurse in the family or the neighborhood, she would always be there to help. Later she went back to work at QCH where she worked the 11pm to 7am shift in the admitting office so she could be home with her family during the day. A few years before she retired her beloved Herbie passed, leaving a hole in her heart and a void in her life. After retirement she filled that void with family, friends,  more volunteer work, physical fitness at Weymouth Club and other hobbies.  She took her first tennis lesson at 65 years old and continued to play until she was 95. Socially she was in a bowling league and card group until she was well into her 90’s, and worked out with friends and trainers at Weymouth Club.  She went on day trips with her nephew, had Sunday breakfast with her sister and niece, and went to outings and family dinners with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  They were her greatest joy in life. She was a devoted and loving mother to her family and hosted Christmas Eve at her home until the age of 98, as well as her famous 4th of July pool parties. She was the glue that kept the family together all these years and taught everyone by example to be kind, generous and understanding of one another.  She lived a very full and wonderful life and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. One of the final things she said was that she was happy. She was one of a kind.

Beloved wife of 41 years to the late Herbert M. Sharp. Loving mother of Alan M. Sharp and his wife Margaret of Kingston, Nancy A. McGrory and her late husband Eugene of Braintree and the late Richard Sharp. Dear sister of Diana Picardi of Braintree and predeceased by her siblings; Beatrice McSharry, Angelo Coletti and Nina Picardi. Also survived by 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and daughters in law; Elizabeth A. Sharp and Denise Sharp.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Monday 3-7 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital). A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday at 11 AM prior to the Funeral Mass in Emmanuel Parish, Braintree, at 12 PM. Burial in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Jo to a charity of your choice.