Josephine "Jose" (nee Collins) Walsh

Passed peacefully away at the Dr. Leonard A. Miller Centre with her family by her side on Monday, April 29th, 2024, in her 86th year.

Jose was predeceased by her loving and devoted husband, Sebastian Walsh, in 2012 after 52 years of marriage.  Her parents; John and Mary Collins (Brewer), her brothers; Joseph Collins and John Follett (Genevieve), her sister, Margaret Power (Richard) and her son-in-law, Roy Nash.

Leaving to mourn are her seven children: Tony (Janet), Bob (Maria), Dolly, Mike (Joanne), Gerald (Sherry), Ken (Denise) and Joanne (Ken), 15 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Also mourning the loss, are her bestest sister and friend, Marie King, her sisters-in-law: Margaret Dalton, Hannah Scott and Beth Higginson (Ken), brother-in-law, Vincent Walsh (Gerri), Karen Murphy and her dear friend, Joe Mulrooney, as well as a circle of other relatives and friends.

The pretty young girl from Freshwater ventured to North Harbour with her heart and mind set on a handsome young bachelor who her sister Margaret said was a fine catch.  They courted and were married on December 28, 1959.  Children followed shortly afterwards.  She was a busy woman, raising seven children, having a hand in raising a community full of kids and eventually grandchildren and running a general store for over 40 years.  Jose sold everything you needed and if she didn’t have it she would do her best to get it.  The shop was a community hub for spinning a yarn and sharing the news. She was an active community member, volunteering, sponsoring the men’s softball team, attending the dances and card games and playing darts, in the hall, until May 2023. She loved to tell the stories of her skunks or lucky finishes and loved being part of the community.  She was a force to be reckoned with and she will be missed.

Special thank you to Brendan Follett for the weekly visit at the homes. She appreciated the company, the conversations and the music.

Thank you to the doctors, nurses, other staff and volunteers at the Miller Centre for their kindness and comfort during moms’ last weeks with us. 

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Dunphy’s Funeral Home, Holyrood. Resting at Sacred Heart Church North Harbour, St. Mary’s Bay. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 1st from 4:00 - 8:00 pm and Thursday, May 2nd from 1:00 - 8:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church North Harbour, St. Mary’s Bay on Friday, May 3rd, 2024 at 11:00 am with cremation to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a donation to the Autism Society in her name. 

A mother holds her children’s hands for a while, their hearts forever.

Your life was a blessing

Your memory we treasure

You are loved beyond words

And missed beyond measure