Josephine T. Urbaitis

Josephine Urbaitis, age 96, went to be with her Savior on April 10, 2007. She died in the residence of her son and daughter-in-law, John and Cathy, San Antonio, TX.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Peter W. Urbaitis, her parents, William B. and Anne Maria (Pleasants) Troy and her 2 brothers and 6 sisters.

She is survived by her children: Peter, Mary Jo, John (Cathy), and three grandchildren, Jim, Katy, and Michael, nieces, nephews, and numerous, wonderful friends.

"Ma" as she was known to all, was an avid gardener, cook, and baker and always had a zest for life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m. in Gethsemane Mausoleum. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery. A visitation will be held Friday, April 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association 225 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1700 Chicago, IL 60601. For online condolences, please visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com

The following was the eulogy at Mrs. Urbaitis' funeral mass:

Good Morning: ON BEHALF OF MA's ENTIRE FAMILY – THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY

* Life is a pilgrimage, a journey

* And death is an Arrival, as well as a Celebration

* We welcome you all to this celebration today – and, today

This is a Celebration of LIFE!

* The Life of: MARY, JOSEPHINE, JENKINS, ROSE, TROY, URBAITIS;

Best known to ALL simply as…….. "MA"

* "MA" was "SPECIAL" as she possessed a truly wonderful

ZEST for life, and had the uncanny ability to see or create

joy in anything and everything.

Life and all things in it were precious to Ma.

She grew up in Maryland in the early 1900's in a family with

8 sisters and 2 Brothers.

* "MA" often shared many childhood moments of playing in

the fields, riding the horse-Drawn sleigh to church (pulled by

Ole Joe Kelly), playing with her cats, Gustav, Adolph, and

Blue-Puss, and riding the train into Baltimore to go to school.

* Ma was a Superb Dietician at St Joseph Hospital in Reading

where she met her husband, Dr. Peter W. Urbaitis.

* They were married on August 5, 1939 and raised 3 wonderful

children - Peter, Mary Jo, and….. John who blessed them

with three grandchildren, James, Kathryn, and Michael, and

oh how Ma loved babies!

* A very religious woman, Ma always carried her rosary,

which she referred to as her "Beads," in her pocket. She also

had a passion for ironing which she incorporated with her

strong faith by cleaning & pressing the altar linens for the

Jesuit community for many years.

* Ma's love and joy of cooking was known all across Berks

County. In fact, (it is rumored that Martha Stewart got her

inspiration for Cooking, Gardening, and decorating from

Ma), as she could always be found in the kitchen, making

pies, Toffee Squares, Bourbon Cake, vegetable soup,

cookies, jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, and even relish.

* In fact, at Christmas time, she would hand make in excess of FIFTY, yes 50! Different kinds of Christmas cookies as well

as the most delicious Fruit Cake (with just a hint of

whiskey).

* Speaking of whiskey, Ma was also known for her secret Egg

Nog recipe which would go down ever soooo smoothly and

take the "edge" off of anything & everything.

* Of course in the summertime, her specialty was her home-

made Iced Tea, and for those "of age," her "Mint Juleps"

which were made with home-grown mint from her garden in

the backyard.

* Speaking of the "backyard", the other place Ma could be

found was raking leaves or weeding in the yard. With her

"Green Thumbs", she raised 6 Holly trees which made the

perfect compliment to her Christmas cookie assortments

which she would give to friends and neighbors during the

Holidays.

* In addition to the holly trees, flowers, and plants in the

backyard, she nurtured and raised a beautiful Gardenia bush

from a single planting. That was Ma's favorite flower and

may we all think of her whenever we smell it's sweet

fragrance.

* Ma not only had a special way with plants, but also with

animals. The birds that frequented "Ma's Diner" were well

fed year 'round. Even during the worst of blizzards she

would shovel snow to assure them a safe place to feast.

* Ma experienced many changes during her wonderful 96

years on this earth. She went from Kerosene Lamps to

electricity, radio to television, Horse-drawn sleighs

to the Automobile, Fireplaces to Gas stoves, Ice boxes to

refrigerators, and party lines to a direct phone line.

* Ma even learned to drive for the very first time at the age of

SIXTY!!! Although she preferred to drive rather than fly,

she did in fact take a half a dozen or so flights in her life.

* In the winter of 1999 Ma moved from Wernersville to San

Antonio, Texas to live with her son and daughter-in-law,

John & Cathy. She had all of the modern comforts of home

and adjusted very nicely to "Southwestern Living" in her

latter years. Ma would often sit at the kitchen table and play

Solitaire, Scrabble, and do crossword puzzles. She would

always offer a helping hand to make dinner, or to "slip" treats

to the pets, do some baking, or weeding in the back yard.

* Ma will always be remembered as a polite, kind, gentle, and

well-mannered southern lady with a "quick wit" and a great

sense of humor. Every night at bedtime, Ma would ask what

day it was, and then would recite the "Monday's Child

Poem", reminding us that she was born on Sunday.

"And the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and bright, and happy and gay."

and she would say "that's me", and we would all agree.

* In her final weeks, Ma's strength eroded, but her spirit, faith,

and belief in God could not be diminished.

* With her family at her side, they saw her transition into

Heaven where she is "Dancing with the Angels," and her

feet don't hurt her anymore!

* So let us reflect and celebrate today the joy of knowing

Someone as Special and as Loving as "MA"!!!