Josephine Sliker, age 84 of Wayne, died suddenly and peacefully at home on Monday, January 25, 2010.  Her daughters were at her bedside, providing comfort when she passed.

Josephine (nee Zisa), or “Jo” as many called her, was born and raised in Paterson, where she attended Central High School.  Her family had a grocery store and she began working there at a very early age, doing her part to support the family in the difficult years following the Great Depression.  Her Sicilian born father ran a tight ship and taught Jo how to be stern and compassionate.  Later, she put these lessons to good use at the C&P Coat Factory in Paterson.  She was a seamstress there and worked tirelessly for over thirty years.  She often found herself advocating for many of the immigrant employees working beside her in the factory.  It was not uncommon for her to stand up to her boss in defense of a co-worker too meek to stand up for themselves.  She had a strong will and was proud.  She met Frank Sliker, who also worked in the garment industry.  He was a pressman and after a brief courtship they were married on May 8, 1945.  They enjoyed over sixty two years of marriage before Frank passed in November of 2007 and throughout all those years, they were never apart.

Jo and Frank had lived in Totowa from 1950 to 1960 and then moved to Wayne, where they raised their family and have lived ever since.  Her daughters recall how wonderful their mother was at sewing; she would always help the girls with their school sewing projects and often made the dresses for their proms.  Jo was so willing that she often made the dresses for her daughters friends too.  Josephine was also an outstanding cook and food was her connection.  Her stuffed mushrooms, stuffed artichokes, and chicken soup were unbelievable.  All the local kids loved to come play at the Sliker house because they would never leave hungry.  Mrs. Sliker would always feed them, and the food was always great; “mangia, mangia” she would say.  She was a selfless, benevolent matriarch to her family; a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Josephine is survived by her four loving daughters; Carol Schimpf of Oak Ridge, Linda Novak and her husband Tim Decker of Pompton Lakes, Lori McNeil and her husband Ken of Vernon, and Sandra Van Wettering and her husband John of Wayne, twelve grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two sisters; Mary Letendre and her husband Bill of Scottsdale, AZ, and Francis Jannicelli of Budd Lake, and one brother; William Zisa and his wife Barbara of West Paterson.  She was predeceased by her husband Frank in 2007, by her beloved brothers Joe & Louie, and her sister and best friend, Grace.