Obituary of Josephine A. Januszkiewicz

Beloved wife and mother, Josephine "Dot" Alexander Januszkiewicz, 93, of State College, returned home to the Lord on June 11, 2017. She was born in State College in 1923, daughter of the late Kyle and Rae Brennan Alexander. She spent most of her early years in Julian on a family farm, the youngest of five; two brothers, Glenn and Frances, and two sisters, Harriet and Jean. In her teens, she moved to State College, where she graduated high school in 1941. She became a registered nurse at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia and excelled in helping children in the pediatric unit. Following WWII, while working as a nurse at the Penn State University infirmary, she met the love or her life, Joseph Januszkiewicz, a veteran and engineering student. They were married and celebrated their 69th anniversary on February 1. Together they raised 7 children. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker who loved to cook, bake, sew, garden, and read, in addition to spending time with her children laughing and dispensing wisdom and wit. As well, Jo was involved with the Twins Club, and was very active in the establishment of special education classes for children with learning difficulties in the Akron, OH area. Following the death of her father, she moved to State College to assist her husband in the management of one of the original apartment buildings in town, built by her father. She is survived by her husband; their children Kim (Frank) Kowalczyk of State College; Walter (Rhonda) of Windfall, IN; Jean (Dan) Batryn of Sunnyvale, CA; Joseph S. of State College; Susan(Rex) Blake of Liverpool; Michael (Lori) of New Paltz, NY; and Margie (Howard) Dash of Carmel, IN. In addition she leaves 22 grandchildren: Tanya (Michael) Chang, Kelly (Paul) Friztsche, and Lt. Commander (USN) Chris (Moriah) Kowalczyk. Samantha (Ian) Blankenberger, Joseph Kyle (Lisa), and Alexander Januszkiewicz. Matthew (Valerie), Michael, Jennifer and Keith Batryn. Kyle, Britta and Eric Januszkiewicz. Liz, Becky, Kaitie, and Hannah Hughes. Joshua, Corey, Glen, Alyssa and Jamie Dash. As well as 7 great-grandchildren: Kristen, Ken and Kevin Chang; Kyle and Kaitlyn Fritzsche; and Kiersten and Viking Kowalczyk. She was a firm Christian believer, who exemplified Proverbs 31 ("Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies…"), and she worshipped at the Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches, often attending mass on campus in her later years. A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 10am until 12 noon, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. The service will follow at the funeral home at noon, led by Pastor Drew Fenstermacher. Burial will follow at Pine Hall Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Gabriel Project/OLV, c/o Betty Gummo, Our Lady of Victory Church, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College, PA 16801, in memory of Josephine "Dot" Alezander Januszkiewicz. Special thanks go to Elmcroft Assisted Living Center and Grane Hospice, whose staff provided exemplary loving care and assistance in her final year and a half of life. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com