Josefa Talag Collette, 74, of Grand Ridge died Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at Jackson Hospital.
She was born October 7, 1948 in Iriga City, Philippines to Mamerto and Maria Talag. Josefa was the baby of six children. In April of 1975, she met the love of her life, Christopher, who was in the Philippines serving in the US Navy. They were married in August of 1975 and shortly after they moved to Long Beach California. Their first years of marriage were spent traveling as Chris received his Navy assignments. From Long Beach to San Diego, then back to the Philippines for a few years before Texas and Italy. After three years in Italy, they spent seven years in Key West and then moved to Milton where they stayed until Chris’s retirement from the Navy. During this time Josefa gained her US Citizenship for which she was always extremely proud. She loved America and the freedoms it provided. In 1996, Chris began working for Florida State Hospital and they made their last move to Grand Ridge. For the past 27 years they have built a life in Jackson County.
Josefa loved to garden. She especially enjoyed preparing the vegetables from her garden. Even after many years in the United States, she always loved cooking traditional Filipino foods. She loved her trips back to the Philippines to visit friends and family. No matter where she was, she was always ready to lend a helping hand. She was a devout catholic and loved her church dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and four siblings.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Christopher Collette; daughters, Melinda Zurey (Jason), Lynn Piech (Dave); four grandchildren; one sister and many family and friends.
A Funeral Mass will be 2p.m. (CST), Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church with Father Phil Fortin officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at St. Anne’s Catholic Church.
Interment will be 1p.m. (EST), Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, FL 32754 with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing.
Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.jamesandsikesfuneralhomes.com.
