Josephine Helene "Josie" Aleniewski

Josephine Helene "Josie" Aleniewski

AGE: 88 • Rumson

Josephine Helene "Josie" Aleniewski, 88, Rumson, formerly of Harrison, died peacefully on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 due to dysphagia complications from a neurological condition known as PSP (an atypical Parkinsonism syndrome). Born in Women's and Children's Hospital, Newark, she attended Harrison High School graduating with honors. She worked as an RN for 40 years, receiving her nursing degree from St. Michael's Hospital, Newark in 1949 where she was trained by the nuns and later worked as an OR nurse in the hospital as well as a private duty nurse.

A longtime resident of Harrison, she served as a Board of Health nurse and as school nurse in Holy Cross School. She was also a member of the St. Michael's Nurses' Alumni Association. She loved learning and continued her studies at Marymount College in Manhattan and encouraged others to get their education. Josie was a passionate reader and frequented the Harrison Library. She also enjoyed travel abroad with friends and family to various destinations such as Yugoslavia, England, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Poland.

She loved New York for both fashion and culture. She would march up and down 5th Avenue to "study" the windows and even attended FIT one summer. Most of all, she enjoyed the opera, ballet and classical music at Lincoln Center and sharing these experiences with her nieces and nephews. Proud of her Polish heritage, she served many years as Secretary of the Pro-Arte League of the Kosciuszko Foundation of which her parents were founding members.

Josie was predeceased by her parents, George and Wladyslawa Aleniewski; her sisters, Dr. Monica Aleniewski, Jane Leppard and baby sister Helen Teresa.

A beloved sister and aunt, after retiring she moved to Rumson to be near her surviving sister, Victoria Mazurczyk Aleniewski. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Monika Mazurczyk and husband Joseph Garipoli of West Long Branch, Thaddeus Mazurczyk and wife Stacy of Littleton, Colorado, Victoria Carlin and husband Benjamin of Bedford, NY, and Suzanne Mazurczyk of Wall, Lauren and husband Bob "Karl" Cottone of Hightstown, John and wife Marybeth of Lawrenceville, Dr. Stephanie Friedfeld and husband Dr. Dale Schrum of Jacksonville, FL, Robert Friedfeld and wife Sue of Nacogdoches, TX, and Eric Friedfeld and wife Maggie of Warwick, RI; Maureen Schroeder and husband Harvey of Spring Lake, George Leppard and wife Cathy of Brielle, Dr. John Leppard and wife Joanne of Huntington, NY.

Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. & 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July, 25, 2014 and from 8:45 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014 at the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. The funeral will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014 from the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Czestochowa Roman Catholic Church, Harrison. Her Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. A memorial service will be held at Holy Cross Church, Ward Ave. in Rumson at a date TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Foundation for PSP better known as PSP.org or Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison, Kosciuszko Foundation, New York, Piast Institute, Hamtramck, MI, St. Michael's Nurses Alumni Association or Marymount Manhattan College, NY. For information or directions, please visit www.mulliganfuneralhome.org.