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February 5, 2011
Josephine Rae Hyatt “Skelly” (nee Viola) age 83 of Wayne passed to a new and glorious eternal life on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at home. Her loving family had assembled at her bedside with love and caring to witness her peaceful passing.
She was born in Jersey City one of three children in a very difficult family environment. Her mother died when she was nine and her father was not a responsible parent. Her sister Clara then fourteen took over the mothering in the family. Clara cared for her, until Josephine wed. They remained close over the years.
She lived in Jersey City until 1974 then to find a better place for her daughters she moved with Tom to Clark, NJ and in 2001 she moved to Wayne to be close to her grandchildren.
Her parents were both born in Italy of strong Italian Stock and she was proud of her family heritage.
Josephine’s formal education was only through the sixth grade because everyone had to work to keep the family within their needs of food and shelter. It was a hard scrabble life for young Josephine.
At age twenty-one she married a sailor named Tommy Hyatt, a Seaman Second Class, who had just returned home from the War. They married in 1948 by eloping to Elkton Maryland which, in those days, was the marriage mill of the North East. In Elkton no questions were asked such as age to get a marriage license. The final result was sixty-three wonderful years.
Tom her husband was a big man and Josephine was only four foot nine inches tall. It was well described as a giant and a peanut together. They loved to dance and Tom had no problem swinging Josephine through the air as they did the jitterbug. She also spent a good deal of time roller skating to the melodies of classic artists.
Josephine was very devoted to her Catholic faith and had a special dedication to the Blessed Mother.
Her daughter recalls that she was an excellent mother to her and just wanted a good life for her daughters. She was a wonderful cook and made the best lasagna. She also had a sweet tooth for cakes and candies, she would hide sweets around the house so Tom would not steal them.
Josephine loved to travel to California where she would stay in Los Angeles and make day trips to the countryside and the beach. Early summers were spent at Greenwood Lake and the Jersey Shore.
Surviving to mourn her loss are her husband Thomas H. Hyatt , two daughters Lois Hyatt and Gail Rovere and her husband Craig all of Wayne; three grandchildren Hunter, Jillian and Collin Rovere as well as her sister Clara Habbermann of Jersey City.
Her sister Margaret Patella predeceased her.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
February 5, 2011
Josephine Rae Hyatt “Skelly” (nee Viola) age 83 of Wayne passed to a new and glorious eternal life on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at home. Her loving family had assembled at her bedside with love and caring to witness her peaceful passing.
She was born in Jersey City one of three children in a very difficult family environment. Her mother died when she was nine and her father was not a responsible parent. Her sister Clara then fourteen took over the mothering in the family. Clara cared for her, until Josephine wed. They remained close over the years.
She lived in Jersey City until 1974 then to find a better place for her daughters she moved with Tom to Clark, NJ and in 2001 she moved to Wayne to be close to her grandchildren.
Her parents were both born in Italy of strong Italian Stock and she was proud of her family heritage.
Josephine’s formal education was only through the sixth grade because everyone had to work to keep the family within their needs of food and shelter. It was a hard scrabble life for young Josephine.
At age twenty-one she married a sailor named Tommy Hyatt, a Seaman Second Class, who had just returned home from the War. They married in 1948 by eloping to Elkton Maryland which, in those days, was the marriage mill of the North East. In Elkton no questions were asked such as age to get a marriage license. The final result was sixty-three wonderful years.
Tom her husband was a big man and Josephine was only four foot nine inches tall. It was well described as a giant and a peanut together. They loved to dance and Tom had no problem swinging Josephine through the air as they did the jitterbug. She also spent a good deal of time roller skating to the melodies of classic artists.
Josephine was very devoted to her Catholic faith and had a special dedication to the Blessed Mother.
Her daughter recalls that she was an excellent mother to her and just wanted a good life for her daughters. She was a wonderful cook and made the best lasagna. She also had a sweet tooth for cakes and candies, she would hide sweets around the house so Tom would not steal them.
Josephine loved to travel to California where she would stay in Los Angeles and make day trips to the countryside and the beach. Early summers were spent at Greenwood Lake and the Jersey Shore.
Surviving to mourn her loss are her husband Thomas H. Hyatt , two daughters Lois Hyatt and Gail Rovere and her husband Craig all of Wayne; three grandchildren Hunter, Jillian and Collin Rovere as well as her sister Clara Habbermann of Jersey City.
Her sister Margaret Patella predeceased her.
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