Genevieve Stasia (Kawa) Josefek, 91, of New Bedford passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, July 20, 2018 in St. Anne’s Hospital, Fall River, after a short illness. She was the widow of Louis Josefek; they had a long and loving marriage of 41 years.
Born in New Bedford on Oct.12, 1926, she was the daughter of Michael Joseph Kawa and Stella Rytelewski Kawa, and the step-daughter of Joseph Dzioba. Her parents predeceased her.
She was a communicant of St. Mary Church and was formerly a communicant of St. Casimir Church, where she was active in the parish circle and couples club.
Genevieve attended New Bedford Public Schools and the Kinyon-Campbell Business School. Her first jobs were at Aerovox Corp. and Freedman Shoes, both in New Bedford. During World War II, she worked in the secretarial pool at Camp Edwards, Otis Air Force Base. Later, she was an office worker at The Outlet Company in Dartmouth, and for 10 years was a secretary at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.
She was a member of the Polish American World War Veterans Auxiliary of New Bedford. With her husband, who served as commander of the local group and state commander in 1983-1984, she traveled throughout the state for meetings, installations and conventions. She also was a member of the Friends of Poland.
In her younger years she enjoyed line dancing at several area councils on aging, playing Bingo, and trips to Foxwood and Mohegan Sun casinos. At 91 Genevieve remained an avid and skillful Scrabble player; she looked forward to SuperScrabble Sundays with sister Joanne and brother-in-law Louis. She cherished all time spent with her family.
A wise, gentle and loving mother and grandmother, she is survived by four children, Karen Josefek Karolczuk and her husband Edward of New Bedford, Marcia Josefek Guay and her husband Raymond of Swansea, Jonathan S. Josefek and his companion Jacqueline Kay-Laporte of Acushnet, and Laurie Ann Josefek and her companion Richard Michael Ead, Jr., of Fitchburg; and six grandchildren, Curtis Edward Karolczuk of New Bedford, Kathryn Jenna Karolczuk of Providence, Ross Kenneth Charpentier and his wife Shannon of Cambridge, Shannon Lee Creedon and her companion Ian Axtell of Lunenburg, Anna Lee Creedon of Gardner, and Charles Joseph Creedon of Fitchburg. She is also survived by a sister, Joanne (Dzioba) Kelley Ludovici and her husband Louis, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Antonia “Toni” Dzioba.
Genevie's family offers their deepest gratitude to all of the women who so lovingly cared for her in her home.
Her funeral will be Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at 9 a.m. from the ROCK FUNERAL HOME, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Church, 343 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, New Bedford. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday. For online tribute/directions www.rock-funeralhome.com.
