After a long illness, Josephine “Jo” Mary (Jeske) Cosby, passed peacefully on May 6. Her life was a gift to all who met her and a treasure to her beloved family and friends.
Jo was predeceased by her husband, William K. Cosby and is survived by her children, Joseph and his wife Eileen of Fort Valley, VA, Therese Reilly and her husband Kevin of Holliston, Peter and his wife Ann of Greenville, RI, Mary Walsh and her husband John of Burlington, NC, Ruth Driscoll and her husband Michael of Sutton, John of Leominster, Rebecca of Marlborough, and Philip and his wife Adelaine of Marlborough, as well as by 19 grandchildren.
She is also survived by her brother Jerome Jeske and his wife Grace, and her sisters Carol Jeske and Barbara and her husband James Neylon all of Chicago, IL, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The daughter of Harold and Gertrude (Grotz) Jeske, Jo was born September 17, 1934 and raised in Chicago, IL. She met her husband, Bill, while working with the Young Christian Workers (YCW), a Catholic Action group dedicated to serving the working class. It was the YCW’s principles of bringing Christ’s love to others through action that transformed Jo’s entire vision and she dedicated her life to living this way.
Bill and Jo took this vision to Bogota, Colombia, working there with underserved communities and continued this work throughout their lives in places like Chicago, Eagle River, WI, and Framingham where they eventually settled with their family. Through their words and example, Bill and Jo taught their children to respect every person regardless of their background or circumstances. Jo considered raising her children her most important work and she was the first person her children turned to for advice. Jo was a leader in helping to shape the curriculum and education in the Framingham public schools and as the mother of eight children and a volunteer in the schools, she had a unique perspective on what was needed.
After Bill was taken by cancer in 1988, Jo continued to contribute within her community, volunteering in her parish, St. George in Framingham and, after moving to Medway in 2010, in her new parish, St. Joseph. Jo was a member of many committees and groups, including the Catholic Daughters of Court St. Joseph, as well as several pro-life groups.
Additionally, she volunteered as a religious education teacher and assisted the parish finance committee. These opportunities eventually led her to one of the great joys of her life - bringing the Eucharist to seniors in local nursing homes. Jo understood the emotional emptiness that many experience toward the end of life and felt blessed to be able to bring the love of God into their lives. She remained dedicated to this service until she was no longer able.
The family would like to thank the caregivers and hospice team who came to love and support Jo with incredible care in the last months of her life.
Visiting hours will be held at the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber Street, Medway on Monday, May 15, from 4-7 p.m. (ginleyfuneralhomes.com).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church Medway, MA.
Interment will be Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m. May 17 at Edgell Grove Cemetery in Framingham, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to Problem Pregnancy, Worcester, MA, (ppwdonations.org) or a pro-life organization of your choice.