Josephine "Josie" E. Paraganian

Josephine E. Paraganian, “Josie”, age 92, passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at The Woods at Caledonia. She was born in Racine, February 15, 1924 daughter of the late Benjamin and Stephanie (Nee: Zayenchkowski) Wolk.

She graduated from Washington Park High School “Class of 1942”. Josie was a member of St. Lucy’s Catholic Church. She was employed as a waitress for 15 years at Ritz Lunch. She owned and operated Josie’s Lunch on Durand Ave from 1970-1985. Josie also worked for Fritz Lepow at Fritz’s Bar and retired from the Rhino Bar in 2013. At age 85 she was bestowed with the title of “Wisconsin’s Oldest Female Bartender”. Josie enjoyed playing cards, cribbage, going to the casino, and fishing up at Cisco Lake Resort in the Upper Michigan Peninsula. Above all she treasured spending time with family especially her grandchildren.

Surviving are her children, George Beal of OR, David (Judy) Beal of FL, Joseph Johnson of Racine; 6 grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Stella Wolk; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands, Bertil Johnson, Harry Paraganian; her daughter, Shirley Toutant; sisters, Lillian (Norbert) Johnson, Bernice Erhardt; and brothers, Charles Wolk, and Leo (Joyce) Wolk.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 11:00 A.M. at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church, 3101 Durand Ave. with Reverend Mark Jones officiating. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet Wednesday at the church, 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Memorials to St. Lucy’s Catholic Church have been suggested.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staffs of Parkview Gardens and The Woods at Caledonia for their loving and compassionate care.