Josephine Maria Piechorowski MEERS

9 JUL 1917 - 19 OCT 2004

• NAME: Josephine Meers
• BIRTH: 9 JUL 1917, South Bend, IN
• EVENT: God Parents: William Piechorowski & Rose Hosinski
• DEATH: 19 OCT 2004, San Francisco, CA

INDEX

[N9994] Obituary: Josephine Meers
July 9, 1917 -- Oct. 19, 2004

Josephine Marie Meers, 87, was born on July 9, 1917, in South Bend, Ind., and died on Oct. 19, 2004, in San Francisco, Calif.
Josephine graduated from Central High School in South Bend and received a B.A. degree in 1956 from Indiana University. She earned a master's degree in psychology in 1961 from George Washington University, and was elected to the Honorary Psychology Society, Psi Chi. Her father, Frank Piechorowski, a police officer, died when Josephine was 11 years old. Her mother, Laura Hosinki Piechorowski, died when Josephine was 16, leaving Josephine and three brothers with Aunt Helen, who became their legal guardian. Josephine enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and completed boot camp at Paris Island. She began active service in May 1945, and was stationed in Guam where she worked in personnel. She was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant and served in the USMC Reserve to June 1953. Josephine worked for the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., and relocated to San Francisco in 1970. She retired from the Manpower Administration as Supervisory State Personnel Management Advisor in 1974. Her professional career was exemplary, resulting in recognition and honors from her department. Josephine was a devoted worldwide traveler, curious and respectful of the cultures she visited, and she encouraged everyone to see the world. To know Josephine was to know her love of the arts and her support of many organizations: the Sierra Club, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the San Francisco Opera, Symphony, Ballet and Public Library. Her interest in many theatre groups and her countless classes at the University of San Francisco made her a remarkable woman of any time. Her love of her church was the touchstone of her life. She was a parishioner of St. Brigid's and a loyal supporter of St. Mary's Cathedral. Josephine's independent spirit was an inspiring quality, and her compassion, generosity and positive attitude touched everyone fortunate enough to share her life.Her parents, Frank and Laura Piechorowski, guardian, Aunt Helen Meers, her cherished brothers, Frank, Henry and James Meers, and her beloved as a sister, Helen Marie Meers Timm, preceded her in death. Her love and respect for her late aunt, Helen Meers, is well-known to family and friends. Josephine was a caring sister-in-law to Nancy Meers, South Bend, Ind., Esther Meers, Anaheim, Calif., and Mary Alice Meers, Dearborn, Mich.She was a treasured aunt to her nieces and nephews and their family as well: Jean B. Grattan of Tampa, Fla., Susanne Kisner of Albuquerque, N.M.; James Meers of Dearborn, Mich., Frederick Meers of St. Clair Shores, Mich., Michael Meers of Granite Bay, Calif., Bill Meers of Fountain Valley, Calif., Laura Meers of South Bend, Ind., Kathy Kent of Folsom, Calif., Timothy Meers of Niles, Mich., and Lisa Augello of Naperville, Ill. The family of Helen Marie and Jerome Timm was always close to her heart: Anne Rimkus of Chantilly, Va., Christopher Timm of Galena, Ohio, Edward Timm of Grover, Mo., Carol Tormey of Chicago, Ill., and Mary Haynes of Columbus, Mont. A continuing joy in her life was the companionship of her cousins, the Hosinki, Ball, McMinn and Hambidge families.A memorial Mass for Josephine will be held on Saturday, Nov. 6, at The Sequoias, 1400 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, at 4 p.m. A reception will immediately follow.In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to St. Mary's Cathedral, 111 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; or to the San Francisco Ballet, 455 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94102. Inquires may be directed to Mike Meers, (916) 791-7703.s, (916) 791-7703.