Josephine Youstra

Her parents, only having completed second and sixth grades themselves, believed very strongly in the importance of education. They sent her first to St. Gabriel’s School in Washington, D.C., then to Academy of the Holy Names in Silver Spring. Jo was one of the very few in her high school class to continue after graduation, earning her bachelor’s degree in English from Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross; she went on to receive her Master’s in English from Georgetown University. Jo had many cherished friends from all her years of schooling – her family often joked about how it seemed like she was always running into people from St. Gabriel, and was constantly planning alumni events for either Holy Names or Dunbarton.

While still living in the D.C. area, Jo began working for the NCWC (which later became the US Conference of Catholic Bishops), where she began a lifelong friendship with Fr. (later Bishop) William McManus. At his invitation in 1959, she embarked on a grand adventure to Chicago, where she was to become the editor of The Critic magazine. Her parents were none too pleased with this endeavor; her future children, however, are so very very grateful for her courageous spirit.

It was in Chicago that Jo Giaquinta met someone she would describe later as “a very quiet young man – I don’t know what happened to him!” This young history teacher took her on their first official date to return library books on New Year’s Eve, and her disappointment with that not-at-all-exciting date possibly explains why she declined his first two proposals; he finally found success with Try Number Three on the Fourth of July (“because I realized he wasn’t going to give up”). Thus, on November 26, 1960, Ray & Jo Youstra were wed … a mere eleven months after that first trip to the library, and within two years they returned to Maryland. From this union came six children – Maria-Rose Cain (Steve), Helene Redmond (Bill), Ray (Ellen), Bill (Jen), Chris (Chris Anne), and Stephanie – fourteen grandchildren (and five grandchildren-in-law), and one great-granddaughter (and one great-grandson on the way).

Having pressed “pause” on her professional editorial career while raising her family, Jo nonetheless kept those skills sharp by moonlighting as a journalist for The Montgomery County Sentinel and The Parish Times; she also passed those skills along to the next generation by moderating the Academy of the Holy Cross newspaper staff, volunteering in St. Martin’s library, and tutoring. Additionally, she helped out with Scouting, school and parish fundraisers, and large-scale projects like the Stone Ridge Used Booksale. Besides all these outward efforts, she also quietly helped out whenever she saw a child in need, buying beds, First Communion dresses, textbooks, winter coats, Christmas presents, or anything else that she discovered was lacking; this secret generosity was a part of her life even in her early years in Chicago.

“Muzzy” was also a constant fixture in her grandchildren’s lives as well, taking them to the museums downtown, having them over for slumber parties, attending their extracurricular activities, or spending the week with them at the beach – and always with a package of cookies, a special treat, and of course souvenir money to celebrate the occasion.

As the daughter of Italian immigrants, she was brought up within the Catholic Church, and that devoutness remained throughout Jo’s entire life, particularly within St. Mary’s and St. Martin’s parishes. Even while in the hospital recently, she was still very concerned about getting to Sunday Mass, and would still be trying to get a ride to help count the collection. She also had an extra-special devotion to St. Anthony, who was her constant companion in finding her lost glasses, and keys, and purses, and everything else.

While those of us left behind will feel sadness at the passing of Muzzy, we know that she is only feeling joy at being reunited with Goomp, the love of her life. She has been a real trooper during these past 2 years without him (almost 2.5 times longer than their entire dating history!), but she never stopped missing him. Even during these last few weeks in her apartment, her most peaceful awake moments would find her lying in bed, quietly talking to the picture of him hanging on the wall. Our loss is most definitely their gain; Muzzy and Goomp are together once more.

Contributions may be made in Jo’s name to the St. Martin’s Food Pantry (201 South Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877). Visitors may call at DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg on Friday, February 6 from 4:00-6:00. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Martin’s Church in Gaithersburg on Saturday, February 7 at noon, with burial to follow at All Souls in Germantown.