Josephine Mary Pisarcik

Josephine Mary Ceneskie was born September 3, 1925. She spent her formative years in Rossiter, PA, attending grade school and high school with Joseph Pisarcik who would later become her husband of 73 years. Josephine attended nursing school in Altoona, PA and graduated at the top of her class in 1947. She worked first at a hospital in Altoona, PA and then found work in a general surgery doctor’s office in Detroit. Josephine and my father, Joe, were married in 1948 and remained married until his passing in 2021.

Joe and Josephine raised three sons, Michael (Rose) Pisarcik, David (Kathlynn) Pisarcik, and Gregory, who passed in 2022. My mother loved nursing, but she loved being a mother more, devoting her energy to her family and her home.

Although she had stopped working as a nurse, Mom was always proud of her achievement and maintained her Michigan nursing license until she was in her 90s. The Josephine M Pisarcik Nursing Scholarship has been awarded in her honor to a Gabriel Richard High School student pursuing nursing each year for the past 18 years and will continue.

Mom was a woman of conviction and knew right from wrong. An essay she wrote in high school stated Mom’s belief that service to others was the purpose of life. She received an “A” on the essay and she lived that belief.

Josephine will join my father at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

In closing, it is important to recognize the neighbors, friends and the staff at Hampton Manor of Woodhaven and Compassionate Hospice Care who cared for my mother the past few years. My cousin, Lisa Roberts, provided much care and oversight to Mom’s benefit as well. Thank you to all.