Josephine Singelis, 88
NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Josephine Singelis, 88, of Hartsville died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, at Great Barrington Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Born Josephine DeSantis in Warren, Ohio, on Sept. 8, 1921, she was raised there by her mother. She also had resided in LaGrange and Riverside, Ill., Stamford, Conn., Silver Spring, Md., and Anna Marie Island and Hallandale, Fla., because of her husband's career.
A Navy veteran of World War II, she enlisted in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and worked in cryptography.
Mrs. Singelis was employed as a drug store manager for many years in Anna Marie Island. She returned to Warren to care for her mother before moving to Hartsville to be near her son, James Singelis.
Lovingly known to her family and friends as "Jo," wherever she went, she always looked forward, not back, and in a no-nonsense way, she adapted to the next part of her life, said family.
Her friends in this area, many of whom she met through the Senior Center in Great Barrington and through her love of bowling and bingo, have enjoyed her winning smile, warm wit and generous personality. She was a woman who thought of herself as simple and unremarkable, but who, although small in stature, had inner strengths that helped her to survive and always move ahead. In her life, she made long-lasting friendships in her past and here in her most recent home. Her family and friends will miss her and will always remember the pleasure she brought to their lives.
Besides her son and his wife, Linda, of Hartsville, she leaves another son, Theodore M. Singelis and his wife, Viv, of Chico, Calif.; a sister, Carmella Beskid of Warren; a grandson, Alexander Singelis of Chico, and her nieces and nephews Carla, Michael, Frank, Cathy, Rosann, Larry and their families.
She was predeceased by two other sisters and a brother, Louis H. DeSantis on April 24, 2008.
FUNERAL NOTICE — There will be a memorial gathering of family and friends on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 2 until 5 at Christ Church Episcopal and Trinity Lutheran Church in the Parish Hall located on the corner of Route 7 and Maple Avenue in Sheffield. Parking is behind the church off Maple Avenue.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society through Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.