Josephine Lavecchia
Josephine Gerache “Pap” Lavecchia, 97, of Chattanooga, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at her home
with family and friends.
She was born in Vicksburg, MS on Sept. 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 WWII. Pap and Dr. Joe were long time 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 was a native of Vicksburg where she graduated from Saint Francis Xavier Academy, 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, Aug. 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, Aug. 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 a.m. until 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 6 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 37411
Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd. East
Ridge, TN 37412.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com
Published August 14, 2019