Josephine Follett

Josephine Marie (Sipka) Follett age 89 of Ashley, Michigan died on Thursday, March 23, 2006 at Carson City Hospital after a short illness.

She was born in her parents home in Elba Township, Gratiot County, Michigan on July 11, 1916, she was a first generation born in America, the fifth and youngest child of Slovakian immigrants John and Katherine (Mindar) Sipka who immigrated to America from Luborca, Slovenski, Slovakia in 1909 and November 1911.

During her elementary years she walked every day three miles to and from the one room Lindley School. She was selected to participate in a radio program spelling bee by her teacher, which was an attribute to her diligent stamina to learn and study, since the English language was not spoken as a primary language in the home. She told of starting kindergarten and being so proud of her new school clothes that she told some of the other kids that she had "new gutsa" (which was the Slovak name for pants) and those who didna�(TM)t understand the language laughed at her. The lunches that she carried to school each day always consisted of homemade bread or rolls. In her teen years she lost her father and since all of her siblings were married and gone from home, she took on the chores of milking cows and field work to keep the family farm in operation to provide a living for her mother and herself.

She was reluctant about choosing a young man to marry because she wanted someone who would help her carry on the chores that she had acquired with the death of her father. She found that person in Howard Follett, a young handsome athletic graduate from Ashley, MI. On February 11, 1939, she and Howard Lawrence Follett were married at St. Cyrila�(TM)s Catholic Church in Bannister, MI and would have celebrated their 45th anniversary when Howard passed away in November of 1984. They began their life together on her parentsa�(TM) farm, lived in Detroit a short time while Howard was employed in a factory there; they spent a brief time managing a farm in Atlanta, MI. Josephine lived in the village of Ashley with her two oldest children while Howard was overseas serving with the United States Army in Germany, and later, when Howard returned from the war, moved to her present home where her husband was raised, in rural Ashley.

Josephine and Howard were the parents of six children. They also accepted Lawrence Sheedy of Manton, MI, Dana�(TM)s Vietnam War buddy, as an adopted son, plus she mothered many others in the area during her lifetime.

She was a past president of 25 plus years in the Ashley PTA and an officer of the Band Boosters. She was a substitute cook for the Ashley Schools, a member of the St. Cyrila�(TM)s Altar Society, she cooked and served at funeral dinners, was a volunteer for many years at the Ashley Health Care Center, bringing in prizes and treats for the residents on Bingo days. Perhaps she was best known for her delicious baked beans and cookies at church bazaars and family gatherings. She enjoyed her gardening, animals and kids. She was an avid gardener and by her own labor kept her yardwork and lawn immaculate. It was not unusual for her to make her favorite foods and deliver them to shut-ins or families of friends when there was a death in the family. Many people in the community were recipients of her generous acts of giving. She enjoyed playing bingo, an occasional trip to the casino, accordion music and polka dancing.

She is survived by her children Lawrence (Sharron) Follett of Howard City, Martha (Richard) Miller of Ashley, Jean Ingersoll of Lapeer, John (Karen) Follett of Ashley, and Colleen Follett of Ashley, 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, sister-in-laws Mary Fisk of Dimondale, Ardys Kaeppeli of Salem, Oregon, one brother-in-law Lawrence Hoffer of Ithaca and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Howard, her son Daniel "Boone", a great grand-daughter Sharron Kennedy, two sisters Katherine Swanchara, and Anna Kravcsik, two brothers Louis and John Sipka and son-in-law John Ingersoll.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 11:00 at St. Cyrila�(TM)s Catholic Church in Bannister, Michigan, where Josephine has been an active parishioner throughout her life. Visitation will be on Saturday from 6-8 P.M. and Sunday 2-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. A rosary will be prayed on Sunday evening at 5:00 P.M. and Rev. Fr. Max Frego will officiate and burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County, Michigan.
On line condolences may be sent to: smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com



Read Josephine Follett's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.