Josephine A."Jo" Fredette

Josephine A. "Jo" (McGrath) Fredette, 89, who resided at 25 Mill Street, Baldwinville for 57 years, died Sunday, October 26th in Heywood Hospital, Gardner, following a brief illness.

Born in Wakefield, MA on September 24, 1919, she was the daughter of the late James and Nora (Bouchier) McGrath.

Prior to retiring in 1981, Josephine was a Registered Nurse employed by Fleetwood Nursing Home in Athol as the Director of Nursing for 12 years. She was previously employed by the Winchester Hospital, Winchester, MA. Josephine was a private duty nurse. She also conducted the annual eye and ear exams for students in the Templeton area for many years.

Josephine graduated from Wakefield High School, Wakefield with the Class of 1937. She graduated from the Henry Heywood Hospital School of Nursing, Gardner in 1940. She attended Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner.

Josephine was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Baldwinville, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, a lector, a member of its choir, and also taught C.C.D. Josephine was a past member of the St. Vincent de Paul's Women's Guild.

Josephine was a member of the Templeton Golden Agers, past president of St. Martins Catholic Women's Guild. She was a volunteer for the blind for 10 years, a literary volunteer at Mount Wachusett Community College, and a volunteer in the reading program at the Baldwinville Elementary School, Baldwinville.

Josephine enjoyed watching the television game show Jeopardy. She was a talented hand crafter, an avid Boston Red Sox fan, and loved to bake. Her family was her pride and joy.

She leaves her husband of 62 years, Charles E. Fredette whom she married May 11, 1946; five sons, James E. Fredette and his wife Louise of Pittsford, NY, Charles G. Fredette of Phillipston, MA, Robert F. Fredette and his wife Louise of W. Springfield, MA, Dr. Thomas J. Fredette and his wife Juliana of Westminster, MA and Mark C. Fredette and his wife Sandra of Gardner; one daughter, Mary A. Hazlett of Franklin, MA; sixteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 29th from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1 Forest Street, Baldwinville, MA. Burial will be in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon, MA. at a later date.

A calling hour in the funeral home will be Wednesday, October 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Templeton Council on Aging, Food Pantry, P.O. Box 244, E. Templeton, MA 01438 or to St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1 Forest Street, Baldwinville, MA 01436.

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