Josephine Alexander Obituary

Josephine Marie Alexander, age 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Berlin, MD. She was surrounded by her family.
Born in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Angelo Marletta and Jean (Maira) Marletta. She graduated from St. Cecilia's Academy in 1950 and attended Maryland University.
She married Edward Melendey in 1955 and had six children in quick succession beginning in 1956 through 1965. Over the years of raising her children and changing diapers she taught CCD, baked many batches of brownies for PTA meetings and volunteered wherever needed. She hosted a foreign exchange student from Ethiopia in 1974 through the American Field Service where she was the Home Selection Chairman. She remained in contact with her Ethiopian "son" for over 50 years until her death.
Her husband Edward passed away in 1979 at the young age of 47.
Jo worked in the Montgomery County school system for 10 years as an assistant librarian at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
She was also a nursery school teacher for 3-year-olds for several years.
She joined Post Cana for widows and widowers and became a group leader where she gave talks about losing a spouse. It was in this group that she met and then married her second husband, Jack Alexander. They were married for 17 years until his death in 2011.
She inherited a Widowed Support Group in 2014 which eventually incorporated 3 churches in Berlin and Ocean City, MD. For 10 years she facilitated this group, providing much needed help to those going through the loss of a spouse.
She was a member of the Sons & Daughters of Italy group where she was on the membership committee.
For 20 years Jo was a Spirituality Group participant providing spiritual support to 10 women.
She volunteered at the Worcester County Arts Council. She was a board member for 3 years and remained the reception coordinator after stepping down. She received the Spirit Award from the Arts Council in 2018 and was still working with them until her death.
She was a Eucharistic Minister at St. John Neumann Catholic Church and Holy Savior Catholic Church.
She mentored a struggling child in kindergarten through the 4th grade, when the girl moved out of the area. Jo remained in contact with her through the years. She is now in high school and thriving.
Josephine is survived by her three daughters, Marla Harrington (Tom), Elisa McGuire (John), and Elena Green (Gordon), her son, Eric Melendey (Tracy), her 10 grandchildren, TJ Harrington, Shannon Kline (Zachary), Colleen Harrington, Johno McGuire, Juliette McGuire, Austin Green, Heather Meseroll (Ben), Christian Green, Eddie Melendey (Rebecca), and Christopher Melendey, and two great-grandchildren, Mark Kline, and Callahan Melendey.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, Edward Melendey, and Jack Alexander, two sons, Mark Melendey, and Carlos Melendey, a brother, Philip Marletta, a sister, Mary Jean McGuigan, and a granddaughter, Haeley McGuire.
Cremation followed her death. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin, MD.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday June 2, 2025, at 11:00AM, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Rd. Ocean Pines, MD.
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