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Matrilineal Monday: Aunt Jo Remembered

Josephine Eckman Pelikoski passed away peacefully two years ago today. So, today Matrilineal Monday just seems a perfect fit to remember her.  

Born 25 July 1926 in Philadelphia, she is the daughter of John Charles Eckman and Mabel Eckman. She was the middle child. Her older brother is John Charles Eckman and he younger is Frank Raymond Eckman (Dad). They three kids grew up in Philadelphia, attended school there and worked there after high school.  

During World War II, Aunt Jo worked in the payroll dept. of the John B. Stetson Co. when they were working on military contracts. The Stetson Hat Company was located on the corner of intersection where 5th Street, Germantown and Montgomery come together in the Kensington area. When the War ended, she worked for the So. Philadelphia National Bank in the bookkeeping department. 

Then in 1948, after serving six years in the US Navy, she married Anthony Pelikoski. Their first son, named Anthony Jr., was born the same year. They also have another son, Robert. 

They stayed in Philadelphia until 1960 when the family moved to Atco, New Jersey. Aunt Jo enjoyed raising the boys on their mini farm where she enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening.

When the boys were older, maybe around the time they would have graduated high school, Aunt Jo went to work for Lacy's Fabric Shop in the Berlin Farmers Market. She liked to sew, making the job a perfect place to work. Later she was a cashier for seven years in Annings Variety Store in Atco until the store closed then as a cashier in the original Canals Wine and Liquor store in Berlin for 14 yrs. until she retired at 80.

Once retired, Aunt Jo did not slow down at all. She and a few close friends traveled in the States, Canada, the UK, South America, and the Panama Canal, as well as many Caribbean Islands.

Josephine loved all animals especially her two cats, Patches & Buttons. Being originally from Philly, she was a huge Phillies fan. 

I wish I would have known her better but I am so grateful for the time I did know her. We wrote often and I got to know her, as well as many family stories! Vichnaya Pamyat!




Matrilineal Monday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. 

© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
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Comments

  1. Dana LeedsJanuary 30, 2015 at 8:14 PM

    What a great memorial... and a wonderful life!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Genealogical GemsJanuary 31, 2015 at 10:13 AM

    Thank you. I wish I would have got to know her better although the last few years we wrote often. She loved her letter writing! It is truly a lost art.

    ReplyDelete

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