Josephine Patricia (Blaskowski) Robydek

Josephine Patricia (Blaskowski) Robydek, 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at her home. Josie was born January 14, 1924, on the Mushlock farm to Victor and Frances (Mushlock) Blaskowski in Cheboygan, Michigan.  Josephine’s mother died when she was just fourteen years old.  Due to caring for her seven brothers and two sisters, she was only able to attend school until the eighth grade. Josie started writing letters to her soldier in WWII and when he returned home from war due to an injury, she and Isadore Robydek were married on June 2, 1945.  They purchased their farm and forty acres for $4,500 back then. Together they raised their family in Riggsville, Michigan. Josephine is survived by all ten of her children. Rosemary, Frances (Stephen) Fay, Gerald (Susan), Dennis (Judy), Kenneth (Cheryl), Michael, Richard, Allan (Kellie), Donna (Chad) Fisher, and Diane (Dale) Spickerman. She cherished her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Josie always had a twinkle in her eye and baked goodies for her grandchildren, who called her Busha.

In addition to raising a large family and working on the family farm, she was a lifelong parishioner of Sacred Heart Church and the Sacred Heart Rosary Society. Josie was dedicated and committed to Catholic school education and service work within her parish. She was the head cook of the Sacred Heart Church festival for several years. She was a long-time service member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Post 3623 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Ladies Auxiliary and received the Cheboygan’s Woman of the Year Award. One of her fondest youth memories was being elected by the community to attend Michigan State University, where she earned a 4-H certificate of achievement.

Josephine prided her life on her faith and her family. She enjoyed holidays, birthdays and attending all parties with her friends, children, and grandchildren. She was a card player at home and with her friends at the senior center. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardens, picking berries, playing scrabble, cards, bingo and reading. She was a Detroit Tigers fan and treasured being able to watch her grandchildren play sports. Josie cooked and baked endlessly. Her home always had the scent of something in the oven. We are truly blessed to have had her in our lives and will cherish these memories in our hearts. Josie will be remembered and missed by her neighborhood friends that she enjoyed cooking for and visiting with.

Josephine was proceeded in death by her parents, Victor and Frances Blaskowski, husband Isadore Robydek, grandson-in-law Sgt. Steven Ganczewski as well as all her siblings: John, Edmond, Marie LaMack, Bernard, Stanley, Leonard, Roman, Joseph and Helen Pardun. She is survived by her children, 47 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and sisters-in-law Shirley Blaskowski and Madeline Blaskowski.

A viewing will take place Tuesday, April 13 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cheboygan, Michigan from 4:00-7:30 with a vigil service at 7:30. The funeral mass will take place on Wednesday, April 14 at 11:00 am with family greeting friends one hour prior with burial immediately following the mass at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bishop Baraga School or Sacred Heart Church.

Nordman Funeral Home in Cheboygan is handling arrangements for our family.

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