Josephine Anton Englat
April 13, 1931 ~ June 2, 2020
Josephine Anton Englat was born on April 13, 1931 in Barre, Vermont. Her friends knew her as Josie or Jo. She was the daughter of Anthony and Nazira “Annie” Anton and was the 2nd of 4 children, Katherine, Ruth and Roger.
Her parents moved to the USA from Blouza, Lebanon in 1928 and they settled outside of the capital, Montpelier. Josie attended St. Monica Catholic School and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1949. She was a majorette during her high school years and her favorite sport to cheer for was basketball. She helped run the family-owned grocery store and motel during her teenage years.
As a young adult, Josie worked for State Senator, Robert Stafford, as his executive assistant in Montpelier, Vermont and followed him to the US Congress in Washington, DC in 1961.
Singing and music were her passion! She was a trained soprano and sang in church choirs, weddings, and for her family…especially on early Saturday mornings!
In the late 1950’s, Josie met the love of her life, Bill Englat, who was a WW II Veteran and a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York.
Bill taught her how to ski and play golf which she enjoyed throughout her life.
They were married in 1963 at St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre, Vermont. Soon after, a new and exciting chapter began!
Nothing was more important to Josie than her family. She and Bill had three daughters, Lisa, Betsy and Amy. They eventually settled in McLean, VA in 1969. Bill designed and built their home on Brook Rd. where they raised their girls and lived together for 40 years.
Family life included mandatory family dinners, Sunday afternoon ski trips, sunny days at Tuckahoe Recreation Club, and beach trips.
Religion was important throughout her life. Josie was part of numerous bible studies in McLean, and she, Bill, and the girls were active members of St. Luke Catholic Church, where they could all be found in their usual pew at mass every Sunday, no exceptions!
Josie was also quite interested in local and US politics. She liked nothing better than a good political debate! She always volunteered to help during elections.
Bill started his own construction and leasing company in 1978, with Josie by his side. Demonstrating her strong work ethic and a sense for business, she gave herself the title of building manager!
She adored her sons-in-law David, Matt, and John, and her six grandchildren, Corinne, Hannah, Jonathan, Patrick, Ethan, and John Michael, who affectionately called her “Mimi”. They could do no wrong and always made her laugh, which could fill a room! She loved spending summers with them in Vermont, Bethany Beach, Delaware and Venice, Florida.
Josie always kept the family close and after Bill passed in 2006, she always knew they would be reunited in heaven.
Mom raised her family to be hardworking, religious and strong, just like her. We will miss our matriarch and her memory will live inside each of us.
*Due to the pandemic, a private funeral mass is being held on Wednesday, June 10th with immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital @stjude.org. This was our mom’s favorite charity. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Her parents moved to the USA from Blouza, Lebanon in 1928 and they settled outside of the capital, Montpelier. Josie attended St. Monica Catholic School and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1949. She was a majorette during her high school years and her favorite sport to cheer for was basketball. She helped run the family-owned grocery store and motel during her teenage years.
As a young adult, Josie worked for State Senator, Robert Stafford, as his executive assistant in Montpelier, Vermont and followed him to the US Congress in Washington, DC in 1961.
Singing and music were her passion! She was a trained soprano and sang in church choirs, weddings, and for her family…especially on early Saturday mornings!
In the late 1950’s, Josie met the love of her life, Bill Englat, who was a WW II Veteran and a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York.
Bill taught her how to ski and play golf which she enjoyed throughout her life.
They were married in 1963 at St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre, Vermont. Soon after, a new and exciting chapter began!
Nothing was more important to Josie than her family. She and Bill had three daughters, Lisa, Betsy and Amy. They eventually settled in McLean, VA in 1969. Bill designed and built their home on Brook Rd. where they raised their girls and lived together for 40 years.
Family life included mandatory family dinners, Sunday afternoon ski trips, sunny days at Tuckahoe Recreation Club, and beach trips.
Religion was important throughout her life. Josie was part of numerous bible studies in McLean, and she, Bill, and the girls were active members of St. Luke Catholic Church, where they could all be found in their usual pew at mass every Sunday, no exceptions!
Josie was also quite interested in local and US politics. She liked nothing better than a good political debate! She always volunteered to help during elections.
Bill started his own construction and leasing company in 1978, with Josie by his side. Demonstrating her strong work ethic and a sense for business, she gave herself the title of building manager!
She adored her sons-in-law David, Matt, and John, and her six grandchildren, Corinne, Hannah, Jonathan, Patrick, Ethan, and John Michael, who affectionately called her “Mimi”. They could do no wrong and always made her laugh, which could fill a room! She loved spending summers with them in Vermont, Bethany Beach, Delaware and Venice, Florida.
Josie always kept the family close and after Bill passed in 2006, she always knew they would be reunited in heaven.
Mom raised her family to be hardworking, religious and strong, just like her. We will miss our matriarch and her memory will live inside each of us.
*Due to the pandemic, a private funeral mass is being held on Wednesday, June 10th with immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital @stjude.org. This was our mom’s favorite charity. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
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Lisa, Betsy and Amy. Your Moms Obituary is more than beautiful. I was lucky to have your Mom as my Aunt and Dad as my Uncle. I so loved the two them and their memory will live inside of me forever till I see them again in Heaven. Love you all Tom❤️
Betsy, Lisa, Amy, and Family we are so sorry for your loss! When I was younger, I would love hearing all the stories my Pop and Gram would tell me about your parents, especially the story on how your mom gave herself the title of Building Manager (I still have one of your Dad’s Englat Construction helmets that my pop gave me). Hoping to come down to Va to visit you all soon!! Love Matthew, Mary Kate, Benjamin, & Camden Englat.
Great strong woman like her daughters. Had a great life. Made me feel like a family member the first time I met her. I also knew immediately to not make a mess especially in the basement with JM and in the kitchen. Very privileged to have had nice conversations with her. RBS