Josephine Frances Steckevicz

January 4, 1920 - November 25, 2018

Josephine Frances (Moran) Steckevicz, who preferred being addressed “Mrs. Edwin”, was born in Malden, Massachusetts, the youngest of three daughters of John F. and Maria (Fahey) Moran. She lived in Hudson since her marriage in 1947 to Edwin F. Steckevicz, who pre-deceased her in April 2008 after 61 devoted years of marriage. Jo received her Bachelor’s degree from Regis College and began her career as executive secretary in the Psycho-Educational Clinic at Harvard University. When she married Edwin, they moved to Hudson, where over the years they contributed richly to the community and joyfully raised their two children, Mary Jo and Randy. “Jo and Eddie” operated the Clover Farm Store, the hub for fresh food and unparalleled customer service. Jo was an influential leader in Catholic Women’s Guild, N.H. Federation of Women’s Clubs, Hudson Fortnightly Club and PTA. An active participant in Saint John the Evangelist Church community, Jo regularly cooked and delivered special dinners to the convent, the rectory, and the Capuchin Friary. She led many troops of Brownies and Girl Scouts in creative cross-cultural and humanitarian projects. A devoted mother, Jo was actively engaged with her children’s interests, producing plays performed in the yard, venturing into tent camping, and an annual week at Hampton Beach. She created a warm, hospitable home atmosphere, where teenagers and monks from the Friary felt free to drop in anytime to socialize. Jo accomplished so many projects with utmost competence and grace, including founding and operating the Winnstead, a successful restaurant, and working as a youth counselor with Neighborhood Youth Corps and parent advocate with Headstart. In her fifties, Jo commuted to night classes at University of New Hampshire, earning her Master’s Degree in Vocational Education, while teaching full-time in the Business Department at Merrimack High School. She organized the region’s first Cooperative Education program, recruiting employers to provide job placements for students, and advocated for her students in their jobs and future careers. She guided and supported countless students over the years, many of whom returned to tell her how she had changed their lives. She continued to meet annually with her “Co-op Girls”, since her retirement from full-time teaching at the age of 74. While excelling in her teaching career, she explored art and became proficient in oil painting, watercolor, collage, needlepoint, embroidery, and even built a cherry wood coffee table with the Woodworking Department at Merrimack High School. She created all of her paintings of images meaningful to special people, to whom she gave the art, after Eddie carefully framed each piece. Precious wife, mother and grandmother, Jo will be remembered for her boundless generosity, humor, and huge heart extending to her beloved family and friends, as well as strangers. Her physical and spiritual health were supported and enriched by the loving care of her amazing neighbors and the kind caregivers of Healthy at Home and Home Health and Hospice. For the past five years, the dedicated staff of Hunt Community have provided immeasurable, sensitive care of her health, comfort and quality of life. Jo had strong faith and a deep devotion to “The Blessed Mother”. She often procured a Green Scapular for persons in distress, assuring them that Catholic belief was not necessary for the scapular to bring solace. She experienced a truly happy life from girlhood into her 90s. She regularly proclaimed that she was ever grateful for having “the best life and the best husband and children any woman could ever wish for.” Members of her family include her daughter, Mary Jo Steckevicz and her husband, Dennis Redfield, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; her son, Edwin M. (Randy) Steckevicz of Cambridge, Massachusetts; her grandson, John Redfield Steckevicz of Portland, Maine; and her sister-in-law Joan Steckevicz of Nashua. She was pre-deceased by her sisters Juliet Burgoyne and Ida K. Moran. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, November 27th from 6pm-8pm in the DUMONT-SULLIVAN FUNERAL HOME, 50 FERRY ST. IN HUDSON, NH. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Wednesday, November 28th at 10am in St. Louis de Gonzague Church, 48 West Hollis St., in Nashua. All may meet at church. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Nashua. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Jo’s loving memory to the Corpus Christi Food Pantry and Assistance, 3 Crown St., Nashua, NH 03060. To share an online message of condolence or for directions, please visit www.dumontsullivan.com THE DUMONT-SULLIVAN FUNERAL HOME IN HUDSON IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.