Josephine K. Repal

Josephine affectionately known as “Jo”, was born in Thurber, Texas on March 11, 1920, went to be with her heavenly Father on April 20, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband George A. Repal, parents Joseph and Mary Kostiha, brothers Joe, Frank, Walter and Steve.

Jo is survived by daughters, Mary Catherine Polk and Georgana Repal, grandson George Thomas Polk, three sisters, Mary Kristynik, Rose Rustejoresky, and Angie Yordanaff; and many nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.

In 1939, at the age of 19, Jo became a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. Her two daughters, Mary Catherine and Georgana were baptized. Both made their First Communion and were confirmed in this church. Both attended school here from 1st through 8th grades. Jo was homeroom mother too many times to count and officer of Mother Club. She was Chairman of the Country Store for 5 consecutive years at Christ the King Annual Bazaars. She loved this church and the community that thrived within it. Jo was a longstanding member of Christ the King Altar and Rosary Society, an Auxiliary member of Legion of Mary, K.J.Z.T. Society, and also a member of Catholic Daughters of America Court Christ the King #1750.

Jo assisted her husband George when he went into business forming Metrol Corporation. After retiring as secretary at Wilson Elementary School, she worked for Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Jo will be remembered for her devotion to God, Blessed Virgin Mary, and her family. She will also, be remembered for her passion for cooking and her love for sports.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 25, 2016 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 with a Rosary being recited at 7:00 pm in the Hunters Creek Chapel at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4419 N Main St, Houston, Texas, 77009. Interment will follow in the Garden of Gethsemani at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Some years back when Jo’s husband George, died, Jo brought him to Christ the King Church for his last visit. Now, we will bring her for a final farewell to the church she loved so much with the family who loved her. Due to age and distance to drive, she attended daily mass at St. Rose of Lima; which became her second church home.

Pallbearers are Joe Kostiha, Jr., Emery Pustejovesky, Jr., Edward Pustejovesky, Kirk Hinkson, Parker Pustejovesky, Jerome Kristynik and Aaron Dahl. Honorary pallbearer Jerome Borski.

In Lieu of flowers, please make donation to Christ the King Church or Christ the King Altar Society.

Jo's favorite quote, "With each beat of our heart, God is saying I love you. When our heart stops, God wants to say it in person."

A EULOGY FOR JOSEPHINE REPAL

As Delivered by Mike Kristynik

April 26, 2016

This morning I’m honored that Georgana asked me to say a few words about her mother and to tell a few stories. I’d like first recognize Georgana for taking such good care of her mother all these years. We all know how independent Josephine was, but you were always there when she needed you, Georgana. Thank you from all who loved her. There was a lot of life in Josephine’s 96 years, and it always involved her relationships with people. Whether it was visits with her family, going to church, the neighbors she had happy hour with, enjoying a good Astros game, or just daily living, Josephine loved being with people, and it was through those relationships that she lived her faith.

We called her “Aunt Josephine”, although I’m really not her nephew. Actually, her husband and my mother were first cousins, but for as long as I can remember we called them “Uncle George and Aunt Josephine”. Years ago my mother left Bryan and moved to Houston because she had relatives here, and as folks did in those days, people took in their relatives to help them get started. At one time, mom even lived with Josephine and George, so mom and Josephine became great friends. After the war, mom met a man named George Kristynik at the old SPJST dance hall, and they were married in 1946. Later my dad’s younger brother Jerry was introduced to Josephine’s sister Mary. You think maybe Josephine had anything to do with all that? So, our families became intertwined and we all became very close. Growing up, whenever mom and dad invited friends to our house, George and Josephine were usually there. Josephine was just like an aunt to me, and I considered it a blessing to this day.

One of my earliest recollections about Aunt Josephine was from 1955. She always got a big laugh out of telling this story on me. Georgana specifically asked me to tell this or otherwise I wouldn’t be telling on myself. And I actually remember some of this, so here goes. Like I said, it was 1955, I was 4 years old and my brother, Danny, was three. Mom and dad had announced to us that sometime after my birthday we’d be getting a little baby brother or sister. My birthday was on October 28, and I’d be turning five. Unbeknownst to us, mom had a little difficulty with this pregnancy, and in early October dad had to take mom to the hospital. So he dropped us off to stay with Aunt Josephine. This was at their old house in the Heights, and I can remember it had a long porch along the front, and that you had to step down into the kitchen from the dining room, and the bathroom was at the end of the kitchen. Anyway, we weren’t really sure what was going on, and the two of us were just bit homesick. But Aunt Josephine and the girls did their best to make us happy. Then one night after she was getting us in our PJ’s and ready for bed, we stepped out of the bathroom and there stood our dad. As we ran up to him, he knelt down and told us that we had a little baby sister. Now, this is where my memory fades, but Josephine told me that I became incredulous at this point, and said to my dad, “but that’s not right because I’m not five yet!” I’m not real sure that I said that, but nearly every time I saw Josephine she told that story, so it must be true. I don’t know how long we stayed with them after that, but I don’t remember being homesick anymore. Sweet Aunt Josephine!

Like I said, we were always visiting each other’s homes as we were growing up. Awhile back Pat and I were going through some old 8mm home movies, and ran across one my dad had taken at our house when we had a bunch of friends over. I think it was around 1958, and there was George sitting on the sofa playing his guitar, a teenaged Kathy stood facing him while she sang, and Georgana was in the other room dancing the jitterbug or something. Josephine was sitting in a chair beside George, dressed perfectly as she always was, just beaming with pride. Relationships were always so important to Josephine.

The years went by, the girls went off to college, and I left Houston to go to Texas A&M…..And then we lost Uncle George. You know, Josephine went through some great personal tragedies in her life, and endured unimaginable heartache. She had every right to ask God, “why me?” But her tremendous faith got her through those heartbreaks. She was such an inspiration to all who knew her.

Mom and dad later retired and moved to Bryan, but mom and Josephine stayed in touch, seeing each other when they could and writing each other often. There were weddings and funerals, and I believe Aunt Josephine made every one of them, because relationships were important to her. Then in 1987, my mother’s long battle with cancer came to an end. In those final days, lying in a hospital bed with her body wracked in pain, the morphine addled her mind and though she tried to talk, she gradually became incoherent. All we could do was sit there and pray that her suffering would end. Then there was a knock on the door and in walked Josephine and Georgana. As I was trying to explain what was going on, Josephine took my mother’s hand, leaned into her face and said, “Hattie, it’s Josephine.” And my mother gave a faint smile! I never saw her smile again. Sweet Aunt Josephine. This was a Sunday, and come Monday my mother was gone.

A few days later, on the morning of my mother’s funeral, several out-of-town family members were gathered at mom and dad’s house, and as we were getting ready for breakfast, I noticed Josephine talking to my dad. She must have sensed how lost he felt, so she was explaining her daily routine to him. She said when she got up in the morning, she had a cup of coffee and a half-slice of toast, then she got dressed, drove to church, and went to daily Mass. When she got home she finished that other half-slice of toast. The expression on my dad’s face was like a light bulb coming on. From that day on he made the 15 mile trip into town every day to attend Mass. Now, those of you who knew my dad may remember what a good Catholic he was, yet Josephine inspired him to be even a better Catholic! She lived her faith through her relationships. Undoubtedly, she was the holiest woman I ever knew.

Josephine touched the lives of so many people. In 2010 when she turned 90, it looked like a hundred people were there for her party at Georgana’s house! The neighbors must have been freaking out because cars were parked everywhere! This morning, I bet everyone here in this church has a story to tell of when Josephine made them feel special. Relationships were so important to her.

Last March, 2015, when she turned 95, Pat and I couldn’t make her birthday party due to a prior commitment. A few weeks later, there was a party for my Uncle Jerry’s 90th birthday, and of course, Aunt Josephine was there. When I visited with her, I asked her how she was doing, and she said fine, then immediately she started asking me about my life, how my cattle business was doing, whether we were getting enough rain, she asked about my sister and my brother’s family, and so on. There in that noisy, crowded party room, she made me feel like I was the most important person there….. And then she scolded me for missing her birthday! In an instant I became that almost five year old homesick little boy, and she was reminding me of how important relationships were. Because that’s how she lived her faith.

In a few minutes, in the Rite of Christian Burial, Father will ask us to pray for Josephine and for her soul, as Josephine had prayed for so many others. But our Catholic tradition also encourages us to ask the saints to pray for us. I believe in my heart that at this moment, Josephine is standing at Heaven’s Gate, and praying for us. Sweet Aunt Josephine, please pray for us!