Josephine F. Grabowski

Josephine (Pohar) F. Grabowski, 95, of Peru and formerly of La Salle, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2025 in Allure Nursing Center in Mendota.

Private Mass of Christian Burial will be in St. Hyacinth’s Church with The Very Rev. Thomas Otto officiating.  Burial will be in St. Vincent’s Cemetery in La Salle.  The Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle is entrusted with funeral services.

Mrs. Grabowski was born in La Salle on October 5, 1929 to John and Josephine (Brekan) Pohar.  She worked at Westclox before becoming the founding Secretary and Treasurer at John Pohar & Sons Trucking in La Salle where she worked well into her 80’s.  She married Clarence Grabowski on July 3, 1948.

Mrs. Grabowski graduated from St. Joseph’s Commercial School and a was a dedicated member of St. Roch’s and Resurrection Parishes until their closings. She was a current member of St. Hyacinth’s Church.  Josephine was an Oblate of the Benedictine Sisters of Rock Island and a member of the Slovenian Union of America. She was a Cub Scout den mother, expert baker and cake decorator, and loved traveling and gardening. 

Mrs. Grabowski is survived by one son Dr. Michael (Kitty) Grabowski of Peru; two grandchildren, Michael Grabowski and Joelle (Sean Cairns) Grabowski; two sisters, Jean (Dr. Robert) Ficek of New Bern, NC and Mary Ann Brunner of Mendota; one brother Frank (Carole) Pohar of La Salle; sister-in-law Barbara Pohar of La Salle; many nieces and nephews; 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clarence on April 28, 2005, one brother John Pohar Jr, one sister Helen Swietek, sister in infancy Mary Diane, two brother-in-laws Raymond Swietek and Gene Brunner, sister and brother-in-law Joyce and Edwin Gapinski.
 

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