Josephine Cugini, matriarch of Auburn’s Cugini family, dies at 98

Josephine Cugini, matriarch of Auburn’s Cugini family, dies at 98

Josephine Cugini, the last of the pioneering Cugini family of Auburn, died March 12, 2026 from complications after falling at her home. She was 98. Jo was a devoted wife, mother, aunt and friend. With her warm smile and natural elegance, she left an indelible mark on the vast network she cultivated and the community she loved. Jo and her husband of 72 years, Dario, owned and operated Cugini Florists and Gifts in downtown Auburn since 1954, where…