Josephine Butler

Butler, Josephine (Jo) EAST GREENBUSH Josephine (Jo) Butler died October 11, 2009 after a short illness surrounded by her family. Born in Gansvoort, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Sara Vance Washburn. She was a 1950 graduate of Cornell University and continued her education until her death. Jo was married to the late John Robert Butler. She has been employed until her death as a micro-biologist in several area hospital labs. Jo most recently was the clinical manager for Dr. Michael Thomson. During the past 19 years, her passion in life has been serving patients, many of whom have become her extended family. In addition, she became very close to her colleagues in the office, asp. Dr. Michael and Sandra Thomson. She enjoyed her family immensely which includes three daughters, Jo Anne Matott and her husband Steve, Jean Mahar and her husband Timothy, and Janice Butler; six grandchildren, Sara Young, Valarie Matott, Jennifer Mahar, Robert Mahar, Kayla Mahar, and Laura Giarrusso; two great-grandchildren, John and Jack Giarrusso; a sister, Dorothy Woods of N.H.; special aunt Josie to Linda Wilson and Karen Becker; a special sister-in-law of Joan Butler; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. The funeral will be on Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. from the Daniel D. Purcell Funeral Home, 510 Pawling Ave. at Parkview Court, Troy. Interment will be in Gansvoort Rural Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Donations in Jo's memory, may be made to Cornell University, Class of 1950, 130 E. Seneca St., Suite 400, Ithaca, NY 14850.