Josepha (Josie) Engel was born in Lemberg, Saskatchewan on July 10th, 1929. The eighth of nine children born to John and Eva (Riess) Engel.
When Josie was a child, the family moved to the Zeneta area, north of Esterhazy in 1938. She received her education in Lemberg and Zeneta. Josie enjoyed the farm life working along side her sister and brothers milking cows and tending to the rest of the farm animals. Gardening was always a big part of their life which included preserving many jars of fruits and vegetables. After moving to Esterhazy in 1981, she continued to spend time gardening, reading, doing puzzles, knitting, and sewing. Josie also loved to write – she spent many hours writing out poems and interesting sayings. She also had 5 loose leaf books, handwritten in pen and ink, of over 5000 songs many of which she learnt by heart over the last 60 plus years.
Josie moved from the family home in 2017 to Daisy Hill where she enjoyed playing cards, knitting squares for quilts, and visiting with friends until moving to Maple Street Manor in 2021. She appreciated going for drives in the country at harvest and attending family events. Josie had an amazing memory recalling stories and people from the past.
Predeceased by her parents John and Eva Engel; brothers Isadore and John; sisters and brothers-in-law Elizabeth (Ralph) Gorski, Johanna (Joseph) Mann, Eva (Josepha) Matyas, Agatha (Oliver) Pask, Katie, Hilda (Arthur) Weese; nieces Irene (Mann) Wiesgerber, and Vivian (Mann) Ritmiller; nephew Lawrence Matyas; nephews-in-law David Oliver, Kay Cottrill and Roy Knourek; great-nephew Garth Radons and great great nephew Braden LaBelle.
She is survived and lovingly remembered by nephews Patrick (Margaret) Matyas, Oliver (Vonnie) Pask; nieces Florence Knourek, Lillian (Robert) Hawcutt, Marie (Larry) Wilde, Genevieve Cottrill, Leona Oliver, Nadine (Richard) Getz; niece-in-law Delores Matyas and numerous great-nieces, nephews and great-great nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.