Josefina Ortiz (before 1934 - March 2017), mostly referred to as Old Woman Josie, out near The Car Lot, was a citizen living on the edge of town next to You and Your trailer and also near Larry Leroy. She called into the station often to tell Cecil what she knew, and also frequently voiced her opinions at City Council meetings.
Her home was the informal shelter for local angels, who helped her with various household chores and protected her from things such as the Creeping Fear.[1] The black one helped change her porch light. She was the first person in Night Vale the angels revealed themselves to. As a result, her house is always surrounded by a halo of bright heavenly light.
Old Woman Josie, like most Night Vale citizens, was a lifelong resident of Night Vale. She was stated to be at the New Years' Eve 1934 party, even entertaining the other partygoers, "young as she [was]".[2]
Josie was the chairwoman of the Night Vale Opera for many years until it folded in the early 90s when a massive puppy infestation destroyed the theater's infrastructure. She also used to be on the same bowling team as Cecil, but the two have spent less time together lately, possibly due to the discovery of the miniature civilization beneath the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex and Cecil having a new boyfriend. They have apparently reformed the bowling league as of "Voicemail".
Old Woman Josie was typically friendly and helpful. She bowled in a league with Cecil[3], and she often called him at the radio station to report on goings-on she saw around Night Vale, things that happened with the angels in her home, and more.
Relationships[]
Old Woman Josie seemed to know a lot about most people in town, but she was directly stated as having personal relationships with these people:
Cecil Palmer: It is mentioned that the two used to bowl on a team together in a league. They seemed to speak to each other like good friends, though it's clear they hadn't been keeping up with their friendship, and she called into the station often to tell Cecil everything she knew or to comment on the goings-on around town.
The Angels: Josie first met the Angels in 1994 during the demolition of the old Old Night Vale Opera House, but they would not reveal themselves for another 18 years [4]. After the Angels reveal themselves to her, they often operate as indirect informants for Cecil through their gossip with Josie. She opened her home to them, and they often accompany her on errands and around town, telling her things they know, ranging from baseball plays to what's in the deerskin suitcase. Though they seemed to occasionally get on her nerves - standing in front of her TV, for instance - it seems they had a desire to protect her, even after they disappeared from her home.
Allandra: Josie's daughter. Josie didn't like to talk about her as she left Night Vale leaving her mother alone[5], they hadn't seen each other for almost 20 years [4]. After Josie broke her hip, Allandra came back to the town to take care of her.
Mentions[]
Bold marks episodes where Josie speaks.
Appearances
Pilot: Josie is first mentioned in connection with the Angels. She also brought corn muffins to the town meeting, though they lacked salt because the Angels needed her salt for a heavenly mission.
Episode 4: PTA Meeting: Josie agrees with the measure to remove the large, lead-plated door from Radon Canyon, adding that lead is a health hazard. In the same episode, Cecil is told by Josie that Carlos "was still absolutely perfect, and smelled of lavender chewing gum."
Episode 5: The Shape in Grove Park: She is with one of her angel friends at the gas station when the angel claims to recognize Rita Hayworth, who Josie says was looking "a bit older, moderately obese, and considerably more Hispanic", though the angel insists it is Rita Hayworth.
Episode 7: History Week: Josie digs up a box from a corner of her yard, carries it delicately cradled in her arms, and buries it in another part of her yard.
Episode 14: The Man in the Tan Jacket: Josie calls in to say that her angel friends have informed her that TMITTJ's deerskin suitcase is full of flies. The angels would not tell her more, as doing so would jeopardize her Eternal Soul. She suspects that he's just an annoying fly salesman. However, an angel purportedly calls the station minutes later, claiming that The Man in the Tan Jacket is from a place "underneath the Earth", then whispers "A flower in the desert," probably indicating the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex.
Episode 19A: The Sandstorm (Part A): Dana reports that Josie had updated her Facebook with an Instagram of some rune stones, which Dana translates to a warning about the sandstorm doubles: "They come in twos. You come in twos. You and you. Kill your double!"
Episode 20: Poetry Week: Josie calls in to tell Cecil that the poem signed "E" is from one of the angels and that all angels are named Erika, with a "k".
Episode 32: Yellow Helicopters: Josie reveals that the angels have been gone for three straight weeks, and later calls in to say that a half dozen yellow helicopters are circling her home, and she is not seeing any sunlight despite her clocks telling her it is the middle of the day. She assumes it is the angels' efforts to protect her. The helicopters have a large triangular logo with an orange "S". After a discussion with Cecil about their old bowling league, she tells him the sunlight has come back, ending her protection, and the line goes silent.
Episode 65: Voicemail: Josie is voiced by Retta. A recording of a voicemail message she left for Cecil is played, which is her asking Cecil if she and two angels can get a lift off of him in his car.
Episode 69: Fashion Week: Josie updates Cecil on the progress at the Opera House, and Cecil mentions that he'll be back to visit her after his planned move.
Episode 70B: Review: Josie attends the opening night of the Opera House, and throws an after party that Cecil attends.
In "Parade Day" Claire Wallace, a freelance photographer, sent in photos of a door that appeared in the empty lot across from the Rec Center. In these photos there's an old woman whose face can't be seen, but it can be assumed that this is Josie. In the first picture, she's putting up a sign that reads “Future home of the Old Night Vale Opera House” with “Josephina Contractors, Inc.” in small print across the bottom of the sign. She's returning to the door in the next picture. Old Woman Josie seems to have a counterpart in Desert Bluffs by the name of Grandma Josephine.
