Mary Josephs

Mary (Lucas) Josephs, of Willimantic, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday evening, April 17, 2013. She was born in Willimantic on January 11, 1919, to Thomas Lucas and Mary Dwonczyk who immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. She married the late Stephen A. Josephs in 1940 to whom she was wed for 60 years. Mary began her working life after she graduated from Windham High School, first as an employee of the American Thread Company, and then as a well-known and respected employee for the Town of Windham for over 44 years. After starting as a clerk in the Assessor's office, she moved on to a career as an executive secretary that spanned the terms of 11 mayors and 10 selectmen until she retired in 1985. Upon her retirement, Mary was named Romantic Willimantic's Cupid and received a proclamation recognizing her unfailing dedication to the town. After a brief retirement, Mary returned to work for the Town of Windham as assistant town clerk for another seven years. Mary is survived by her loving daughters, Linda Gustafson of Clinton, Massachusetts and Mary Ellen Josephs of West Chester, Pennsylvania as well as her two beloved grandchildren, Eric Gustafson, M.D., his wife Kimi Kiviranna of New Orleans, Louisiana and Jamie Gustafson, Esq. of Washington, D.C. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday April 20th between 9:30 and 10:30am at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic prior to the celebration of her Funeral Mass at 11:00am at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St. Willimantic. Interment will then follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Windham. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests memorial donations to Hospice of Eastern CT., 34 Ledgebrook Dr., Mansfield, CT. 06250 or to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .