• She was born in County Meath, Ireland and grew up in a happy family with her brothers Paddy and Tony and her sisters Pauline and Noeline.
• She did well in both school and sports. She was a Gaelic language scholarship winner and captain of her Irish Field Hockey team.
• At the age of 20, she visited the US and stayed with her Aunt Janie, intending to stay for a limited time. However, she met her husband, Phillip, a Longford man, and they were married in 1955.
• Josephine was the wonderful and treasured mother of 3 children: John, Cathy and Kevin.
• She was very active in scouting activities when her children were young and was a den leader for the Cub Scouts for many years.
• Josephine was an active parishioner at St. Saviour’s church for over 50 years.
• She was a lector, a Eucharistic minister and attended daily Mass as often as possible.
• Josephine’s involvement in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal started in 1974 and this involvement brought a new level of joy and assurance to her faith.
• Based on her participation in the Charismatic prayer group, Josephine had the courage and boldness to start a ministry which reached out to “at-risk” teens that gathered near Prospect Park. She also initiated a bereavement group for widows and widowers that met in her house. She was also involved in ministry for special needs children.
• More directly in the Charismatic Renewal itself, Josephine gave many compelling talks on the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit. She received many prophetic words during prayer meetings and gave teachings on the gift of prophecy. An example of a prophetic word is the following: “I urge you to encourage one another, to affirm one another, to draw out the gifts that are still deep within, not yet manifest. Draw them out and use them for the upbuilding of My Body, the Church.”
• Josephine felt that the most important thing that she could do for anyone was to encourage them and praise whatever qualities that person had so that the person might grow I confidence and further develop that quality. She would purposefully make the time to seek people out to personally deliver praise and encouragement – whether it be for delivering a good homily or encouraging a friend to pursue her piano playing – Josephine made a point to get an uplifting word to the people that often needed it most.
• Since living part of the year in Florida, Josephine also became very active in the Charismatic prayer group at Saint Timothy’s parish in The Villages.
• She was loved wherever she travelled: from Ireland to New York to Florida and North Carolina and many places in between.
• Josephine always sought to help others and she never had an unkind word about anyone.
• Although she battled macular degeneration since age 46, she maintained the joy of the Lord and the Peace that passes understanding in the midst of that battle.
• Her final trial was a progressive neurological condition, she also undertook that battle with courage and grace and unwavering faith, drawing strength from the Lord.
• Josephine was a good and faithful servant of the Lord and she knew Him well.
• Josephine passed peacefully with her loving children by her side.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.9.5