Josephine Angela Hennessey (Engbert), 90, formerly of Gettysburg, PA, passed away on Saturday, July 18th, 2026. She was born on November 2nd, 1935, in Windber, PA. She was the daughter of Cyril and Margaret Desales Engbert (Beiter).
She was predeceased in death by the following family members, including her parents, mother-in law Cora and the late Francis Hennessey, her loving husband Raymond Hennessey, her brother “Buddy” (Cyril) and his wife AnnaMarie, her sister Margaret Mary (Richard Case), her sister Emma (John Frieko), her sister Rita (Bernard Dunegan), brother and sister-in-laws; Richard Hennessey, Timothy Hennessey (Helen); Donna Nestor; Dr. Anthony Mosca; and James Rovan; as well as nephews Patrick Case and Michael Frieko.
Josephine is survived by her six children: Joseph (Nilsa Loyo-Berrios), Mary (Louis Welsh), Gerella (George Matheos), John (Maeghan); Theresa (Douglas Neatrour) and Carmella. As well as her grandchildren: Angela (Mike), Laura (Alex), Nicholas, Bethany, Alanna, Sebastian, Alisha, Emily, Hannah, Jacob, Abigail and Nolan; along with her great-grandchildren: Rachel and Morgan; as well as her sister Theresa Rovan and sister-in-law Virginia Mosca, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was a 1954 graduate of Johnstown Catholic High School. After high school, she worked in accounting and billing with her family’s business in the Johnstown area. She later would attend Mount Aloysius while discerning a vocation to the Sisters of Mercy in Cresson, PA.
She would then move to the greater Metropolitan Washington, D.C., area and work in the billing department of George Washington University Hospital. She would later return to the Johnstown/Altoona area. She and her husband eventually settled in Gettysburg, PA. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.
The most important role to her was always her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, and friend. She truly enjoyed taking care of her family, especially her grandchildren. She even would watch her children’s pets for them when they were away. She loved visiting her family and friends and spending time with all of them. Her loving smile and spirit were with her up until the end. There wasn’t a day that would go by where she would not smile and say thank you for visiting, even when she could no longer visit others due to her declining health. She truly loved people and the world around her and always showed that love to all those that she encountered in life.
She was a deeply faith-filled woman who truly loved God and her Catholic faith. She was involved in many areas and organizations within her church in the different areas she lived throughout her life. She truly put her faith into action in how she lived her life. She had a strong will and spirit unlike any other. She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, and all of her family and friends and all those who loved her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 23rd, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Gettysburg at 12 noon with Fr. Michael Pray, celebrant. Interment will be in the church cemetery. There will be viewing on Wednesday, July 22nd at Monahan Funeral Home in Gettysburg from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM and on Thursday at the church from 11:00 AM until the time of the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Francis Xavier Church, 455 Table Rock, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Online obituary condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.