Ferrara, Josephine 'Jo' McNeill

Josephine “Jo” McNeill Ferrara, 91, of Monticello, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehab Center.

Jo was born Feb. 14, 1921, and raised in Monticello, the daughter of Albert Joseph Hawthorne and Harriet Louisa (Smith) McNeill. She graduated from Monticello High School in 1938 and attended Northfield Preparatory Academy in Northfield, Mass. She enrolled in the University of Iowa in 1940, and attended the University of Arizona in 1941. She returned to Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1944 with a degree in History. She later earned a BA in Home Economics from Mundelein College in Chicago.

She began working as a teller at Uptown Federal Savings and Loan in Chicago in 1962. She retired from Uptown Federal in 1988 as vice president and manager of their flagship office in downtown Chicago.

She married Eugene Ferrara of Chicago in 1976 After retirement, they moved to Monticello and enjoyed an active social life with their many friends.

She is survived by two children from her first marriage, Michael Moynihan of Monticello and Megan (Andrew Baer) Moynihan of Rhode Island; grandchildren Casper, Joseph, J.B. and Mojo; and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Sean Moynihan in 1986; and her husband, Eugene in 2011; two sisters, Margaret Fowler and Janet Bywater; and one brother, Albert McNeill.

A memorial gathering for both Jo and Gene will be scheduled in the spring of 2013.

Memorials may be made in the Ferraras' names to the Monticello Public Library.

Information available and condolences accepted at .

Published in The Gazette Jan. 15, 2013.