Josephine Crosby

Josephine Veronica Charland Crosby passed away May 7, 2008. Referred to as Jo, Pete, and more recently, Mim, she was a first-rate mother, nurse, and teacher to many during her long and eventful life. Mim grew up in Boston, Massachusetts where she was trained as a nurse. Never one to shy away from difficult tasks, she did her initial nursing experience at Boston City Hospital, where she cared for the city#8217;s needed population on a wide range of medical issues. She married Dr. Roy C. Crosby in October 1946, and the couple lived in Massachusetts and Maine early in their marriage. After adopting two children and giving birth to their first, Dr. and Mrs. Crosby moved to Boise, Idaho in early 1949. They had another son and two daughters while living in Boise. Dr. Crosby was killed in an airplane accident in Massachusetts in 1958, so Mim raised her six children by herself. She taught nursing at St. Alphonsis School of Nursing in Boise before pursuing her teaching certificate at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. She taught in the lower elementary grades in Boise, Idaho always giving of her time and energy to encourage young students and provide assistance to struggling families. As a scout and 4-H leader, she also worked with young adolescences to help them become more responsible and caring adults. After teaching in Idaho for several years Mim returned to New England with her family. Mim taught elementary school and was a teacher-principal in Northport, Maine for more that 20 years. She was an innovative teacher as well as a mentor and friend to colleagues. Many young people #8220;down east#8221; remember her caring and patient method for helping children learn. Over a period of two decades, she touched the lives of thousands of children. She was always willing to provide extra time and resources from her own life to foster the success of children. Many of those children, now successful adults and citizens, remember with respect that diminutive woman who did so much for them. Mim still has many friends and former students living in Maine, who will remember her cooperative and helpful attitude and thoughtful acts of kindness. Mim lived out the end of her life with her children, staying varying lengths of time with different sons or daughters in a variety of states. She enjoyed her time with children and grandchildren, always sharing what she had and reveling in the beauty and quality of her life. She is survived by her children, David Crosby, Susan Grey, Roy Crosby, Vincent Crosby, Brenda Paige, and Martha Christian, as well as ten grand children and three great-grand children. She lived life to the fullest, leaving a legacy worthy of respect and honor. Those of us privileged to know her will sincerely miss her. There will be a funeral Mass at Holy Rosary Church, 220 West Main Street, at 11:00 on Friday, May 9th.