Submitted by: Dan Rich
April 7, 1919 - Feb. 12, 2007
South Bend Tribune 2/17/2007
SOUTH BEND - Josephine Mae "Jo" (Henderson) Pruett,
87, passed away in the home of her son, Robert, Monday, Feb. 12,
2007, at 9:10 p.m. following an illness. Born April 7, 1919, in
Chicago, Illinois, to the late John and Margaret (Iori) Spagnola.
Also preceding her in death were her sisters, Christine Marshman
and Rose Richart; and brothers, Albert, Nick, John and
Edward Spagnolo. Left to cherish her rich memories are her son,
Robert Henderson (Gary Heath) of South Bend;
daughters, Margaret (William) Korn of South Bend, Susan
Johnson (Rose Ziotkowski) of Apache Junction, AZ, and Diane
(Jack) Schram of Mishawaka; 10 grandchildren and 14
great-grandchildren; and her friend who was like a daughter to
her, Doris Washington.
Josephine, affectionately known as Josie of Jo, was a kind and witty, colorful and unforgettable soul. She was a great homemaker and the former owner of the Avenue Fruit Market. No one ever left her home hungry as she loved to cook. There was always a delicious dish coming to perfection on her stove. She prepared the most wonderful spaghetti sauce. She would enlist the help of family members for hours to make meatballs, gnocchi or noodles. All the while Elvis crooned in the background. She loved Jesus and prayed often. She was a very diligent worker, loved a clean house, despised litterbugs and was loved by all who met her.
She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and Ala non. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St., and burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka. Friends may call in the funeral home Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637 or to the Fellowship House, 1438 E. Calvert St., South Bend, IN 46613.
Editor: She had married Edward L. Pruett. He died in 1988.