Josephine Agnes Blubaugh

She was born on Sept. 12, 1939, to Salvatore "Sam" and Syble (Emmite) Battaglia.

Jo Agnes attended Incarnate Word Academy (’57), and then graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Education (’61).

She married Paul Eugene Blubaugh Sr. on Feb. 13, 1966. They had four children: Paul Eugene Jr., John Joseph, Michael Lawrence, and Mary Theresa (Mancha).

Jo Agnes worked as a school teacher and a university/school secretary for many years before returning to earn a Master of Arts in Education in Bilingual/ESL and Supervision from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, in 1996. She then re-committed to the classroom as an ESL teacher with Galena Park ISD, where she was a well-loved and dedicated educator, retiring in 2003.

A member of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education, she volunteered as its president from 1998-1999. She was Delta Zeta Sorority member as well. For 40-plus years she was a devoted parishioner of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, serving at various times on the parish council and as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

Jo Agnes is survived by her children, their spouses, and 17 grandchildren:

Paul (Emily) Blubaugh and children, Anna, Claire, Michelle, Marie, Daniel, and Theresa; John (Mirza) Blubaugh and children, Joseph and Catherine; Michael (Margaret) Blubaugh and children, Jude, Francis, Nathaniel, Nicholas, and Gemma; and Mary (Louis) Mancha and children, Salvatore, Lucia, Antonio, and Leonardo.

She was preceded in death by her cherished husband, her parents, and her two siblings who died in childhood, Salvatore Jr. and Catherine Louise.

Widowed since the age of 34, Jo Agnes always said her proudest accomplishment was raising her four children.

Visitation will be at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, including a Rosary service at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 3011 Telephone Rd., Houston. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

May she rest in peace.