On July 14, 2026 John Osenni passed from this life, at his home, surrounded by his daughters, his eldest grandchild, and a dear neighbor. He is finally reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Dolores Cennamo, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage.

Johnny was born October 8, 1928, and grew up in Brooklyn, at 810 Bergen Street, in a house purchased by his parents, Giovanni Osenni and Annunziata Grilli, who had emigrated from Italy. One of 7 children, Johnny talked of his Brooklyn childhood fondly, with days spent playing stickball in the neighborhood, and the traveling fruit vendors who'd let you sample the watermelon before you bought it. Bergen Street at that time was an Italian neighborhood, so much so that one of the neighbors who spoke only English was referred to as the "American lady." Dolores, the apple of his eye, grew up just down the block at 874 Bergen Street. They saw Frank Sinatra in NY as teens, danced a mean jitterbug, and spent hours together with their friends at Coney Island. John was a US WWII era Navy Veteran, and served stateside towards the end of the war. He and Dolores married in 1950.

Johnny and Dolores had their first two daughters, Nancy and Susie, while still living at 810 Bergen, where they remained until 1955. Johnny worked at Bohacks grocery store as an assistant manager. Then, in 1955, Johnny heard from his brother Phillip about a new company up in Poughkeepsie called IBM looking for employees. Having graduated from a technical high school in Brooklyn, where he studied electronics, he was hired by IBM as a technical writer.

The Osenni family moved upstate to Poughkeepsie for 2 years until the IBM Kingston plant was opened and they bought their first and only home on Edgewood Drive in Barclay Heights in 1957. He worked part-time as a grocery clerk at the A&P on Main Street in the village of Saugerties as well. He always enjoyed the grocery business.

Johnny loved his house, and especially his backyard. He was an avid gardener, but his pride and joy was his lawn. He enjoyed mowing the grass, and continued to do so even after it was physically difficult. His girls, their friends, and then his grandchildren spent hours and hours each summer in the backyard pool, where he would often be seen soaking up the sun on the deck he built.

Like many frustrated athletes, John loved nothing more than a quick round of golf. As with other aspects of his life, he was an enjoyable golfing companion. No matter how many shots it took him to get near a green, we would always make an announcement, predicting what was certain to happen next ("a chip and a putt!").

John lived a simple life. He and Dolores loved their weekly shopping jaunts to "Caldor" or Waldbaums in the Town of Ulster. Their favorite beach was New Jersey's Wildwood Crest where they'd spend a few days each summer. They'd visit their favorite restaurants, Reginato in Lake Katrine or the Capri in Port Ewen, and to the end of his life Johnny's favorite dish was Reginato's Chicken Francese.

John Osenni is survived by his three daughters: Nancy Osenni Campbell (Michael). Susan Kavanagh (John, "Barney") and Lisa Osenni (Darryl Jack). He has 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren: Bay Campbell of Vermont,(Laura Molinelli), Jon Campbell of Berlin, Germany, Mickey (Lucy Parham) and their daughter Louise Ann, Mark Thorn (Liz Pedowitz) of New Jersey and their daughter Adele and son Miles.
Engagement Portrait of John and Dolores by Jon Campbell

The family of John Osenni extends our sincere thanks to the wonderful team members at Hudson Valley Hospice for helping John's transition from this life with kindness, grace, patience and humor.