COLUMBIA – Josephine Emily Konyak left us to be by the side of her beloved husband, John G. Konyak, in eternal rest. She died July 7, 2011. She was born Jan. 7, 1919, in Manhattan, New York, the daughter of Dorothy (Sophie) and Alex Rogachuff.
She was baptized Jan. 26, 1919, at the church of St. Stanislaus, 7th St. She worked as a bookkeeper for W.T. Grant Co. During World War II she was an ammunitions worker for the federal government at Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, N.J.
She worked on the 37 and 40 M.M. lines. After the war she and John owned and operated Jo and Johnnies Lunchonette, Mine Hill, N.J. As their children were born they sold the luncheonette and purchased a dairy, Port Murray Dairy, which she helped operate while returning to the Arsenal to work in the finance and accounting department. She retired in 1982. For more than 35 years, she was a member of Mine Hill Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, where she served as post president, then secretary and treasurer. She moved to Maine permanently in 1982. She was an active member of St. Michaels Parish Women’s Group, Cherryfield, where she served as past president and was instrumental in fundraising for much needed repairs and remodeling of the church building. She will be fondly remembered by the Women’s Group. She also volunteered for The Ark Animal Shelter. She made hundreds of crocheted catnip balls throughout the years that were sold to raise money, given to the shelter cats and sent home with adopted cats. She will be missed by other shelter volunteers. Josephine will also be missed by her canine house companions, Kala and Kupcake; and the resident parrot, Baby.
She was predeceased by her parents; her stepfather, Adam Radzevich; her brothers, Joseph, John and Peter; and sisters, Mary and Helena. She is survived by her daughters, Julianne Shoemaker and husband, Jerry, of Davenport, Iowa, Jeanne Youkon and husband, Jerry, of Franklin, N.J., and Jo-Andrea Lindsay and husband, Ken, of Outer Banks, N.C.; and her son, Michael and his wife, Lorna, who looked after her and cared for her in Columbia. She has eight grandchildren, Kim, Brady, Brian and his wife, Tracy, all of Iowa, Andy and wife, Alicia, of Indiana, Kenneth J.W., Brenden Ian and Kristen of North Carolina and Jodi and husband, Sean, of New Jersey. She also has five great-grandchildren, Lorilea, Emmett, Hunter, Mandy and Alexandria.
Visiting hours will be held 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Milbridge. A Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Cherryfield, with a reception to be held afterward. Burial will be private at Windswept Cemetery. Donations may be made in memory of Josephine to The Ark Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 276, Cherryfield, ME 04622. Condolences may be made online at
www.bragdonkelley.com.