Longtime club member Josephine (Agostini) Costa celebrated her 95th on March 12th of this year. Josephine was born in 1926 in Escalon, California to Giuseppe Agostini and Maria Franceschetti. They were both from Cologna, a village in the municipality of Pieve di Bono-Prezzo, which in turn is in the Val del Chiese.
Giuseppe arrived in San Francisco in 1906, where he worked as a cigar dealer with his father. In 1916 Josephine’s mother Maria immigrated to the US after getting married. The couple moved to Escalon where Maria was a homemaker and Giuseppe planted figs and a vineyard. They had two other daughters besides Josephine, Annie Agostini (1924-1964) and Louise
(Agostini) Rampoldi (1931-2015).
In 1952 Josephine married Leo Costa, born and raised in California to a family of Italian origin. Josephine and Leo had three children, LeRoy (Melinda), Maryanne and Don (Palma). Leo first farmed tomatoes, watermelons, spinach, pumpkins and peaches. Then, sons Leroy and Don joined their father in farming peaches, wine grapes and walnuts. In 1993 they also installed a walnut huller. By the time Leo passed away in 2000, they had transitioned to growing only walnuts. They currently do commercial hulling and drying for 70 Central Valley walnut growers.
Josephine now has four granddaughters and three great-grandchildren. She celebrated her 95th with her family at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe.
We send our very best wishes to Josephine.
Tanti auguri! Buon compleanno!
In the picture: Josephine celebrating 95th surrounded by her loving family at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe: Tim & Ashley Enserink with daughters Ashley & Claire in front; the Costas – Amy, LeRoy, Melinda, Josephine, Maryanne, Don & Palma; Brittany & Stephen Oldfather
Happy Birthday Josephine
