Jean Julia (Santilli) Pusateri

New Albany - Jean Julia Pusateri, of New Albany, formerly of Youngstown, died Friday evening at Otterbein Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mrs. Pusateri was born January 31, 1924 in Youngstown, a daughter of Salvatore and Gemma Restaino Santilli.

Raised on the West Side of Youngstown, Jean met her husband, Anthony Pusateri, and they were married September 18, 1943. Soon after their marriage, Anthony, an army veteran, was deployed to Europe during World War II and was later captured by the Germans. As a young mother and wife of an army veteran and POW, Jean's experience defined her character as strong and resourceful. When Anthony returned from the war they made their home on the Southside of Youngstown. Jean raised her two children and also helped out at her husband's grocery store, The Point Market.

The ultimate homemaker and matriarch of the family, Jean surrounded herself with family, baking, cooking and always hosting dinners at her home. It was not unusual to have as many as 30-40 friends and family at a time with banquet tables of food and bake goods. She would take whatever was brought home from the market and create a culinary feast. Jean was also a faithful and dedicated member and deaconess for over 50 years of the Church of Jesus Christ and over the years helped raise money through their many fundraisers with her bake goods.

Jean's husband Anthony died August 17, 1996. Jean leaves her son, Ronald Joseph (Tammy) Pusateri of Westerville, OH; three grandchildren, Philip Pasquale, Scott (Isabel) Pusateri, and Kathryn "Katie" (Tony) Webster; and four great-grandchildren, Ava and Gemma Pusateri, and Reed and Grace Webster.

In addition to her parents and husband, Jean was preceded in death by her daughter, Carol Jean Pasquale; one sister, Esther Santilli; and five brothers, Anthony, Richard, Mario, Nephi, and Elmer Santilli.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 AM at the Davis-Becker Funeral Home, Boardman. Interment will follow at Tod Cemetery after the luncheon at the Davis Becker Family Center.

Family and friends will be received Wednesday, prior to the service from 9:30 AM until 10:45 AM at the funeral home.

Jean's family request that any gifts please be made to Honor Flight Columbus, PO Box12036, Columbus, OH 43036 or at HonorFlightColumbus.Org