Josephine Freda (Karam) Morse

“Neat as a pin, sweet as a rose, she will make friends wherever she goes”

Josephine Freda (Karam) Morse, 97, died peacefully at home on April 26, 2018. Josephine was born on October 5, 1920 in Oswego, NY.  She was the youngest of 8 children born to Syrian/Lebanese immigrants Najeeb George and Freda (Ahad) Karam.

Josephine and her late, beloved husband of 71 years, Loyal, were married on November 28, 1942 in Oswego, NY. They lived in New Britain, CT, Oswego, NY and Franklin, PA before making their home in Medina in 1947.

Prior to her marriage, Josephine studied at Rochester Business Institute in Oswego, NY and worked as a secretary for the Social Security Administration in Washington, DC for two years.  As a newlywed Josephine worked for the Civil Service in New Britain, CT.

Josephine was an active member of Holy Trinity Parish, St. Mary’s Church.  She was involved in Catholic Daughters Court Santa Maria #295, St. Mary’s Mother’s Club, Senior Citizens of Western Orleans, Medina Creative Home Club and volunteered with Red Cross Blood Drives for over 30 years. 

As a loving wife, mother and homemaker, Josephine enjoyed baking, canning, cooking and entertaining.  Her family’s favorites were her Lebanese dishes of tabouli, kibbee, thyer and stuffed grape leaves.  Jo & Loyal loved hosting backyard barbecues and playing pinochle with their many friends and family.

Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her 3 brothers and 4 sisters.

Josephine is survived by her six children:  Ronald (Mary-Jo) of Clay, NY, Stanley (Candace) of North Carolina, Patricia Sands (Calvin) of Medina, NY, Mary Wigle (Jeffrey) of Texas, Kathleen Kreppel (John) of Clarence, NY and Barbara Peyton (Christopher) of Connecticut and former daughter-in-law, Maryann Tryt Reeves of Dexter, NY. She also leaves 18 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren as well as many loving nieces and nephews who always remembered her with phone calls and letters, especially George Karam who visited faithfully. 

Friends may call on Friday, May 4, 2018 (4:30-7) at the Cooper Funeral Home, 215 West Center Street, Medina.  The Rosary will be prayed on Friday at 4:30 at the funeral home.  The Rev. Daniel J. Fawls will celebrate her Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 11AM Holy Trinity Parish/St. Mary’s Church.  Entombment will be in St. Mary’s Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice