Obituary of Josephine Mowbray

Josephine "Jay" Eloise White (Bianco) Mowbray Josephine "Jay" Eloise White (Bianco) Mowbray, age 90, of Girard and formerly of West 21st Street in Erie, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, surrounded by her loving family. She was born August 29, 1917 in Erie, a daughter of the late Rosario and Mary Guzzi Bianco. Jay resided in Erie her entire life. She began her career as a bookkeeper for Carl E. Schultz then raised her family before returning to work as a secretary for Har-Lin Day Care. Jay retired from the Erie School District where she worked in the payroll department. Jay was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church. Her hobbies included crocheting, belonging to a card club for over 65 years with her childhood friends, bowling, crossword puzzles and mostly spending time with her family and friends at their many gatherings. She would welcome friends and family to her table where there was always room for one more. She was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years, Robert L. Mowbray, who passed away in 1977; her son, Robert L., Jr. in 1972; her son-in-law, Gary P. Mountain in 2003; two sisters, Anna Briglia and Rose C. White; two brothers, Anthony "Tony" Bianco and Frank C. White; and a brother-in-law, John C. Larese. Survivors include her daughters, Mary E. Lehman Mountain of Fairview, Darlene A. Anthony (Paul) of Fairview and Kathleen A. Buck (Wayne) of Girard (with whom Jay had resided); a sister, Esther A. Larese of North East; six grandchildren, Richard P. Lehman, Michael Lehman (Shannon), Marlene Lehman Matthews (Jerry), Aaron Anthony, Lisa Anthony Slupski and Ashley Anthony; five great-grandchildren, Samuel, Madelyn, Joseph, Vincent and Izak; two dear lifelong friends, Francie Cornish and Ellen Abata; many beloved nieces and nephews. The family is extremely grateful and wishes to acknowledge Patty McGuiness and Veronica Walker of Great Lakes Hospice for the outstanding care, love and compassion they exhibited by treating Jay as if she was their own mother. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home, 4216 Sterrettania Road on Sunday, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to attend a Prayer Service there on Monday at 10:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to Great Lakes Hospice, 1700 Peach St., Suite 244, Erie, PA 16501 or Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 222 W. Cunningham St., Butler, PA 16001.