Josephine McCracken

Mrs. Jo (Palsat) McCracken passed away in the early hours of July 23, 2016; she was being visited and comforted by family and staff at Crista Shores Retirement Community in Silverdale, Washington at the time of her passing. Mrs. McCracken was born near the town of Mundare, Alberta, Canada on June 2, 1927. She was the fourth child of Fred Palsat (1884 -1934) and Magda Kissel (1892 – 1980). Her husband, Noel F. McCracken passed away in 1999 in Port Townsend, WA.

During the early 1950’s through encouragement from friends and secured employment, Mrs. McCracken left the farmland prairie of Alberta and moved to Peoria, Illinois. In 1955, she became engaged and married Noel Frederick McCracken, and they remained in Peoria, IL for the next 33 years and raisa family of four. The McCracken’s attended the local Catholic Church weekly and devoted years of faithful service to the Legion of Mary and National Marriage Encounter.

After retirement, they moved to Port Townsend, Washington until Noel’s death in 1999. Mrs. McCracken moved to Silverdale to be closer to her daughter and established faith community. She maintained strong ties to Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Parish in Bremerton, Washington and also provided spiritual comfort and outreach to other faiths through contemplative prayer groups.

The remaining family comprises of four children, Mary McCracken, Mark McCracken of Silverdale, WA, John McCracken of Spokane, WA, and James McCracken of Yelm, Washington; fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bremerton, Washington on August 19, 2016 with a rosary at 10:30, Mass at 11:00 am officiated by Father Jack Buckalew, followed by a local graveside service held at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park. The McCracken family wish to express deep appreciation to the staff at Crista Shores for the care, love, and devotion shown to our Mother. The family also requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Franciscan Hospice care, Holy Trinity Catholic Church or the charity of their choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home, Bremerton, WA.