Josephine M. Taylor

"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on."-    Irving Berlin

Josephine M. Taylor, 90, of Coatesville, PA, passed away on Saturday, January 27, 2024, in Chester, PA. She was the wife of the late John F. Taylor III, who passed away in 2014. She is survived by siblings: Anthony Volpe, John (Jo-Anne) Volpe, Mary Volpe, Frank (Josephine) Volpe, and Felix Volpe (deceased). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.          

Born in Norristown, PA, she was the daughter of the late Umberto and Lena Cavalier Volpe.

Josephine was a 1951 graduate of Norristown High School where she was a member of the concert band and District Band.             

She received the Music Award for Outstanding Talent and Musicianship and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

She developed a passion for music during her childhood and has nurtured that passion throughout her life, achieving distinction both as a performer and a teacher.               

Although her favorite instrument was the accordion, she also played the cornet, piano, clarinet, and other instruments.           

During her high school years, she performed on the radio station WFIL with the accordion.

Josephine received a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester State Teachers College in 1959.             

She also studied at Neupauer Accordion Conservatory in Philadelphia, PA. She also took Extension workshops in music at Penn State from 1961-1962, and educational workshops at Millersville University in 1987.

From 1952-1976 she was the first female member of the Norristown Italian Verdi Band as tuba and accordion soloist.         

In 1954 she performed accordion solos at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with the Neupauer Accordion Orchestra.     

She directed Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Choir from 1963-1965. 

From 1968-1970 she was choir director of the Marshalton Methodist Church in West Chester.

Between 1968 and 1970 she taught at the elementary level as a resource person in music at schools in Germany, Japan, Norway, and the Philippines.

In 1969 she presented accordion concerts in the Philippines and Hawaii.           

She also played the Alpine Horn in Lucerne, Switzerland.        

She was the featured accordion soloist on a concert tour behind the Iron Curtain in Romania with the Ambassadors of Friendship Program. It was with this group that she met her husband, John, who was a member, and they shared over 40 years of marriage.

She retired as a music teacher from Downingtown Elementary and Junior High School and started traveling with her husband in their motor home.

She published a book about their travels titled’ “Home is Where We Stop for the Night”. She also published “Peeks”, a children's Christmas story.     

She continued gratis performances for Shriners, Kiwanis Club, Blind Association, hospitals, nursing homes, and the Downingtown Community tree lighting.

She was a member of Our Lady of The Rosary Church in Coatesville and the Fraternal Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #249.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. from Our Lady of The Rosary, 80 S. 17th Ave., Coatesville, PA, with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Bellevue Presbyterian Cemetery, Gap, PA.    

Eastern Star services will be held at the graveside following mass.        

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Fraternal Chapter #249 O.E.S., c/o Janine Stein, secretary, 1011 Lafayette Rd., Coatesville, PA, 19320.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home, Parkesburg,

Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com