Josephine Johnstone

POLAND – A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Parish in Poland, for Mrs. Josephine F. Johnstone, 93, who died early Thursday morning Nov. 8, 2018, surrounded by her family.

Josephine was born Feb. 20, 1925, in Youngstown, a daughter of John and Josephine Kotodzris Gilkes.

She was a graduate of East High School and received her associates degree from Ohio University, where she met Weston O. Johnstone, whom she married on July 25, 1945. Jo stayed home to raise their three boys in Struthers and then studied to become an LPN and worked as a private duty nurse for several years. Jo and Wes then built a home in Poland, where she loved to cook and garden with her greatest joy being family holiday dinners, and Sunday dessert and coffee visits after Mass. Jo and Wes celebrated 72 years of marriage together until his death on Aug. 26, 2016.

They leave a legacy of sons, John (Marilyn) Johnstone of Poland, David Johnstone of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Rose of Columbiana, and Richard (Tessa) Johnstone of Newark, Del.; grandchildren Stephanie, Christine, Tracy, Jennifer, David, Jessica, Caitlyn, Chelsea, and Ian; and nine great-grandchildren.

Josephine was preceded in death by her sisters, Jeanette Voytko and Dorothy Patta, and brother Stan Gilkes.

Arrangements are by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home Poland Chapel.