Obituary of Josephine Houser
BARBERTON/STOW - Josephine Houser, 95, entered eternal life on August 25, 2017.
Josephine was born January 14, 1922 in Akron, Ohio to Polish immigrants, John and Sophie Szwast, both of whom preceded her in death. She graduated from Akron South High School, Class of 1939. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Jack P. in 1995; sister, Mary Cippant; brothers, Carl Szwast, Edward Szwast, Joseph Szwast, Steven Szwast, Stanley Szwast; twin brothers, William and John Szwast; and special nephew, Stanley "Bernie" Swast.
Survivors include sons, Ronald of Charleston, SC, Edward of Grandy, NC, and Robert (Kimberly, the daughter Jo never had) of Barberton, OH; grandchildren, Douglas (Cheryl) Houser of Granville, OH, Jeffery (Dorothy) Houser of Los Angeles, CA, Matthew Houser, San Diego, CA, and Lindsey (Ted) Jagucki, of Grandy, NC; great-grandchildren, Natalie, Katherine, and Stephanie Houser of Granville, OH, and Cole and Ryan Jagucki of Grandy, NC. Josephine also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
After her three sons were all in school, Jo started working for a CPA in Akron doing bookwork and preparing income taxes. When her boss passed, Jo opened her own income tax service. She wanted to be home with her three sons during summer break from school, and this work provided her the opportunity to do so. She closed the business in 1983 when Jack retired. Jo and Jack did some traveling for a few years, but later bought a winter home in south Florida. Josephine was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Stow for over 50 years. Jo, along with her husband, were members of the Country Club of Hudson. She participated in golf leagues at Fox Den in Stow and various bridge clubs. Josephine liked her trips to Las Vegas and watching the birds in her backyard. Another activity which occupied three months of her time every year was cleaning those darn leaves in her yard. When the first leaf dropped in August, it was time to get out the cleaning equipment!!
The family would like to thank special nieces Frances Houser, Joanne Zemla, and Sharon Waddington for their frequent visitations and concern for Josephine. Another shout out goes to Eugene (deceased) and Cecelia (Micky) Peddle and their children, Tom, Terry, Vince, Diane, and Carol. Next door neighbors for better than 50 years, the Houser family couldn't have hand-picked better people to live beside. Also, special "Thank You" to the management and staff of Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living in Barberton, Cardinal Retirement Village in Cuyahoga Falls and the Cleveland Clinic/Akron General Visiting Nurse Service, all of who cared for Josephine with TLC.
Visitation will be held at Redmon Funeral Home 3633 Darrow Road, in Stow on Monday from 4 to 7 PM, and where Father Kevin Klonowski will conduct services Tuesday 10 AM. Burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. If you so wish, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Holy Family Endowment Fund, 3179 Kent Road, Stow 44224 or the Humane Society of Summit County, 7996 Darrow Road, Twinsburg 44087, in Josephine's name, or to a charity of your choice.