Josephine Gerache “Pap” Lavecchia
Josephine Gerache “Pap” Lavecchia, 97, of Chattanooga, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 8, 2019, at her home with family and friends. She was born in Vicksburg, MS on September 13, 1921.
Pap and Dr. Joe were natives of Vicksburg, MS and moved to Chattanooga in 1947 after being stationed in Germany at the end of World War II. Pap and Dr. Joe were longtime members of Saints Peter and Paul Basilica. Pap served as a board member of Memorial Hospital, the Medical Auxiliary, the Ladies of Charity, Riverview Garden Club, Chattanooga Junior League, and as she liked to say “the oldest member of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club”.
She graduated from Saint Francis Xavier Academy at Vicksburg, where at the time of her death, she was the oldest living graduate.
Pap was preceded in death by her mother, Mercedes Messina Gerache, and father, Joseph J. Gerache of Vicksburg, MS, and her darling husband, Joseph V. Lavecchia, Jr., M.D., her only child, Mary Josephine Lavecchia Warwick, her granddaughter, Agnes Mercedes Warwick, her sisters, Rosalie Gerache Ford and Mercedes Gerache Reeder, and her brother, Joseph Anthony Gerache, Sr.
Pap is survived by her grandson, Edward Joseph Warwick, Sr. of Vicksburg, MS., her granddaughter, Mary Sullivan Moore Dodd of Chattanooga, her six great-grandchildren, Edward Joseph Warwick Jr. (Ned), Mary Josephine Moore (Joelie), Mercedes Dillion Warwick (Cede), Elizabeth Dagny Warwick, Garrett Scott Dodd and Sarah Catherine Moore.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday August 16, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga with Father David Carter officiating. Interment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday August 15, 2019, at the Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Chapel, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with a Rosary Service at noon. The family will receive friends again from 9-10:30 a.m. at the funeral home on Friday prior to the service.
The family wishes to give special thanks to all of Grandma’s caregivers over the last six years, especially Marissa Kuntze and Dana Brinkman.
Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Ladies of Charity, 1800 East Main St., Chattanooga, TN 37404 or Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County, 5705 Uptain Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 South Moore Rd. East Ridge, TN 37412.
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