Josephine (JoJo) was born in Bronx, New York, 1933, to immigrant parents Walter a vaudeville musician (tenor and ukulele) from Whales and Josephine (Leonard) Murray from County Sligo, Ireland.
She grew up in a loving hardworking family with 6 siblings Walter (Jr) Mary (Cronin) Audrey (Mackey) Robert, Richard and John Murray and many other close aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family grew up at 559 Southern Blvd and later moved to 196th street, Bronx, New York, close to the Grand Concourse, Fordham Road and Poe Park. They were members of St. Anselms’s parish and were initiated into the Catholic faith which JoJo and her family continued to practice and receive sacraments throughout her life.
JoJo graduated from Walton HS where she learned secretarial and homemaking skills (sewing). She had the most beautiful red hair that she was known and admired for and took great care and pride of her appearance.
John J was a Korean veteran and 2 of her brothers served in the armed forces Walter (Navy) and Robert (Army).
She worked for Bell Telephone in Manhattan and after a few years started dating and eventually married John Joseph McGuckin who was the neighborhood “catch”. Mom said she fell for Dad because of his sense of humor and overall kindness and dedication to her, his career plans and commitment to making a better life for himself. She became his bride and eventually mother of their 4 children. When Jo and John were married in Our Lady of Refuge Church October 19, 1957, they moved to 204th street and attended St. Brendan’s parish. After a few years mom withdrew her retirement savings from Bell telephone to put towards a down payment on their first home in Westchester County on Ichabod Court, Yorktown Heights NY where they raised Brian, Maureen Patricia, and Eileen, all who attended Seton grammar school and parish in Shrub Oak, NY.
JoJo worked in the planning department for the Town of Yorktown and later at General Foods /Kraft in the beverage division from which she retired.
Although they moved from the Bronx to the “boonies’ JoJo and John remained close with their families and were known for family parties and get togethers, celebrations, holidays, birthdays, Christmas etc. John would do all the shopping and JoJo would do the planning. She was famous for her extraordinary talents in cooking and baking.
JoJo became quite the seamstress, as well as crochet and knitting, making clothes for herself and her children and ties for Dad’s business suits. A favorite past time that remained through her life was fabric store browsing to create her next project. She would take time off from work in December to shop and bake tins and tins full of different types of Christmas cookies for our family Christmas celebration which all the siblings and their family and other relatives and friends would come and spend Christmas day at our home on. Delicious Christmas cookies and cheesecakes and chocolate cakes (tripe layer) and banana and pumpkin and Irish breads were shared and enjoyed by all. Everyone loved her baking, and everyone loved our family parties. Her daughters, especially Patricia continues the baking and triple chocolate cake tradition.
JoJo was an avid decorator who enjoyed beautifying her home and re-decorating, (which sometimes drove my Dad crazy) making her own slip covers, pillows, drapes and window coverings. Mom always kept John happy and well fed. They enjoyed an active family and social life. Some of their favorite past times and hobbies included: dining and dancing attending functions, theaters, travel: Europe and the US and taking their 4 children on day trips and vacations as a common occurrence. They also enjoyed gambling (casino destination) trips and JoJo was blessed with the luck of the Irish, John wasn’t so lucky most of the time. The whole family loved to play cards and at our family gatherings the adults would get together for poker and black Jack with penny and nickel antes. That was how she learned how to become a shrewd poker player beating her siblings and cousins at many games.
JoJo and John needed a bigger home as the family grew and bought their next house at 773 Swed Circle in Yorktown heights. As a family we were involved in watching the home being built, decorated and created into a family home for all to enjoy. JoJo was very close to her mother, sisters, aunts and most weekends we have family visiting too for tea and muffins, scones and family dinners and barbeques.
As time went on and children grew Brian (the oldest and only son) attended Fairfield University and receive a degree in accounting and became a CPA. Maureen studied nursing at American University and received a BSN and a MSN from Gonzaga University. Patricia attended Iona College and received a BA and Eileen attended SUNY WCC and works in advertising.
Josephine and John retired to Palm Beach Gardens FL where she got another opportunity to decorate and create her last beautiful, loving home.
JoJo’s cousin Jack (John Cunnane) who she grew up with and his spouse Elaine were in PBG, FL and the parties continued. Family dinners and Elaine and Mom shopping and decorating and consulting each other on beautifying their homes together, attending church, sharing meals. Runs to Coconut Creek, Gulf shores and family visits were always being planned.
JoJo would bake, cook, decorate and take care of her husband John keeping him in love. Shopping and getting a good deal on sales were also her pastimes. When computers and cell phone and IPads became popularized, JoJo was right alongside the technology. She learned how to make Christmas and birthday cards on the computer and insisted on setting up her own equipment and was ahead of her peers in understanding and working with technology.
As time went on and lives slowed down, she took excellent care of her husband until John’s passing. After John passed in September 2016, JoJo was still fighting to live her best life which she did until the very end. She remained independent in her lovely home with daughter Maureen helping but still remained strong and beautiful until the very last breath.
The nickname of The FIGHTING IRISH rings loud and true for our dear mother Josephine. Rest in Peace mother.
Josephine is survived by her children Brian (Maryann) Maureen, Patricia, and Eileen and three grandchildren Max, Josie and Ben. She will be laid to rest with her husband John at South Florida Veterans Cemetery.
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