Mildred Shia Joseph

Mildred Shia Joseph, 95, of Austin, TX, passed away peacefully at her home full of cherished memories while surrounded by family on May 28th, 2023.

Mildred was born to S.A. Shia and Mary Shia in Wheeling, West Virginia, where she first experienced the Lebanese culture, she would embrace with pride throughout her life.

On June 30, 1946, she married Sammie Joseph and they began their life together in Austin, TX, the place Mildred was happy to call home the rest of her life. They were blessed with four children. She is survived by her sons, Philip Joseph and his wife Lisa, Sammie Joseph Jr. and his wife Susan, her daughter, Laura Joseph, and daughter in law, Ingrid Estetter. Mildred and Sammie are now reunited in Heaven with their beloved son, Larry Joseph.

With a strong passion for education, Mildred graduated from the University of Texas and began her teaching career at the Computation Center. She not only shined as an educator with her strong intellect and ingenuity, but the compassion she showed her students, her family, and her community made her a true mentor in more than just academics, but also in life. She was just as curious as she was kind to others, which made everyone she surrounded feel they were important and loved.

Throughout her life, Mildred continued to pass down a legacy of family unity, undying love, and an ever-present involvement in the lives of every one of her grandchildren - April Gruder and her husband Benji, Sammie Joseph III and his wife Mindy, Cater Joseph and his wife Wesley, Cheryl LaFond and her husband Jason, Philip Joseph Jr. and his wife Lauren, Catherine Cavey and her husband Taylor, and Christopher Joseph and his wife Marissa.

Mildred's roots continue to nurture a beautiful and ever-growing family tree, one full of beloved great-grandchildren who she cherished every moment with. Jake, Wynne, Sammie IV, Cater Jr., Holden, Clara, Sutton, Millie, Annie, Josephine, and Philip III. She will be forever remembered as the heart and soul of the Joseph family and as a shining light on a wonderful era of Austin's history.

Pallbearers will be Sammie Joseph III, Cater Joseph, Philip Joseph Jr., Christopher Joseph, Ben Gruder, and Jason LaFond.

Visitation will be held on Thursday June 1 from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm followed by the recitation of the Rosary at Weed Corley Fish, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 2 at 10:00 at St. Austin Catholic Parish Church, 2026 Guadalupe Street, Austin with garage parking available at 1900 San Antonio Street, followed by the burial at Assumption Cemetery. A reception will follow to celebrate her life at the Austin Club, 110 E 9th Street, Austin.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Christopher House, 2820 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, Texas 78702.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank her many caretakers that were so loving and wonderful to her: Veronica, Florinda, Carmen, Betty, Lisa, Rose, Stephanie, and Dr. Amanda Laviolette.