Josephine M. "Jo" McGurk

Josephine M. “Jo” McGurk (nee McLaughlin)

90, formerly of Berwyn, passed away September 17, 2023. Born October 7, 1932 in Newark, NJ to the late George and Evelyn McLaughlin (nee Amberg). Jo graduated from St Elizabeth College. She traveled to Guam seeking an adventure and met her husband while working on the air force base. She married Edmund McGurk on August 17, 1957 in South Orange, NJ. They were married for 60 years. Jo is survived by her children, Edmund Jr, Michael, James, and Christine; grandchildren, Shannon, Bryan, Peter, Ellison, Justin, Caroline, Shilo, Tegan, Mary Caitlin, Carissa, Jorja, Walter, Josephine, Michael and Matthew; great-grandchildren Olivia, Natalie, Edmund, and Paola and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Ted, daughter Ellen, her parents George and Evelyn, and her siblings Anne Helfrich, Margaret Odell, Mary Evelyn Friant, and George McLaughlin Jr.

Jo loved an adventure and traveled the world. She met Ted on Guam, brought back silk for her wedding dress from Japan, went into the gold mines in South Africa, rode camels in Egypt with Margie, gave chewing gum to children in the Soviet Union, learned to fly an airplane, and skied the Alps with Ted and their friends. She never shied away from a trip to a new place, be it New Mexico or South Korea. Jo also loved the shore. It didn't matter if it was Maine with Mary Ev, North Carolina with George, or New Jersey with Anne and Margie. You could find her sitting with her feet in the water and soaking up the ocean air. Her family always came first and she loved them beyond compare.

Josephine's family would like to thank the staff at Wesbury UM Retirement Community for their love and care these last 4 1/2 years. And the nurses and staff of Gentiva Hospice for their love, care, and compassion during the last weeks of Josephine's life.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation 10:00-11:00 AM on Friday, October 6, 2023 at St. Monica Church, 63 Main Ave, Berwyn, PA 19312, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA. All are invited to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 640 Berwyn Ave, Berwyn, PA 19312 following the burial for the luncheon.

Alzheimer's disease stole the last 10 years of Jo's life. Please consider a donation to alz.org in her memory in lieu of flowers. Please send any correspondence to Christine Lazusky, PO Box 521, Cochranton, PA 16314.