Josephine Bush

Josephine Josie (Thomas) Bush of Bedford passed away on November 9, 2017 at home, surrounded by her loving children. She was the wife of the late Walter P. Bush. Loving mother of Thomas and his wife Diane of Natick, William and his late wife Patti of MD, Robert and his wife Wendy of Plaistow, NH, James and his wife Cheryl of Newton, NH, and Barbara and her husband David Lavine of Bedford and Michael of Bedford. Loving grandmother of Kristin and Tommy Bush; Eric Bailey; Sara Cloutier; Daniel, Haley, Dori, and James Bush; Marc, Steven, Jeannette, and Melissa Lavine; and the late Rachel Bush. Great-grandmother of 8 and great-great-grandmother of 1. Sister of Barbara Cassidy and the late Donald Thomas, Hazen Thomas, Marion Heiligmann, Sadie Conlon, and William Thomas. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Born and raised in Belmont, Josie graduated from Belmont High School Class of 1947. After graduation, she moved to New York city where she met her husband Walter. After starting their family in New York, they moved back to Massachusetts where they settled in Bedford to finish raising their family. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother she was also active outside the home serving as the Welcome Wagon Hostess to Bedford, a member of the Bedford Public Ceremonies Committee and was President of the Bedford Social Club. She also volunteered her time at the Bedford Town Hall and St. Michael's Parish where she was an active member of the church. Josie and Walter were also active members of the Bedford Minute Man Militia. Josie planned and organized the Class Reunions for Belmont High School class of 1947 for over forty years and was an avid Bingo player at the Billerica Elks. She worked at Bedford Lane School and Bedford High Schools cafeteria and as a receptionist at Weather Services, Computervision/Prime Computer. She spent her winters at her home in Vero Beach, FL, where she was also very active in the community. Visiting hours will be held in Shawsheen Funeral Home, 281 Great Road, Bedford on Friday, November 17, 2017 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. Funeral from Shawsheen Funeral Home on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Michaels Church, 90 Concord Road, Bedford at 10 a.m. Family and friends invited. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lahey at Home Visiting Nurses Hospice, 800 W. Cummings Park, Suite 5000, Woburn, MA 01801. More info and directions: shawsheenfuneralhome.com