Josephine “Josie” Ortiz, 91, of Winslow, gained her wings on Dec. 21, 2022, while surrounded by family. Holy Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m., with graveside services ensuing at Desert View Cemetery. Father Peter Short will be officiating. For those wishing to join the family, a luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. Josephine was born to Lucio and Paulina Munoz on Feb. 16, 1931, in Winslow. She often talked of the days when she would help her father in the yard, tending to the garden and animals. After high school, she worked in various department stores around town. Recently, she visited the Motor Palace Mercantile to see an old picture of herself from those days that hangs on the wall. The new owner held an impromptu photo shoot to recapture the moment, and it made her day. Josie met and married Charlie Ortiz, and to this union four children were born. She took on the role of mother and homemaker, and while she was never interested in learning as a young girl, she had to turn to her sister and mother to finally teach her to cook. From that point on, she loved to cater to family and friends, and no one ever left her house hungry. Widowed at the age of 59, Josie continued to tend to “the ranch” she lived on in Bushman Acres. She could be seen daily, watering her many trees and pulling weeds. And while she stopped driving at an early age, she still found the time and a way to shop and visit around town. She spent a lot of her days caring for her grandchildren, her neighbor’s children and those of her friends. It kept her young at heart and made her happy to be able to help. When her home burned down in 2012, she moved to another, close to an elementary school. She enjoyed seeing and hearing the cars passing by and the children playing in the school yard. She made quick friends with her new neighbors and in fact anyone that knew her, immediately loved her. She knew no strangers. Even in recent years when injury and illness kept her in and out of hospitals, she made friends with doctors, nurses and other patients. Her family was always reminded how wonderful she was and how pleasant their experience was with her. While they certainly wanted her to get better, they never wanted to see her go. Josie enjoyed going to yard sales and shopping anywhere anyone would take her. She loved collecting antiques, chilies and roosters. She loved listening to old music, while cooking or cleaning in her home. She loved visiting friends and family, and when she couldn’t see them in person, she kept in touch by phone regularly. She absolutely loved playing and watching cartoons with her great-grandchildren. She loved sharing stories and enjoyed learning about others’ stories. She loved her church and kept religion at the forefront of her daily life. She was loyal and caring and will be missed by so many. Josie is preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Ortiz; parents, Lucio and Paulina Munoz; brothers, Manuel, Jose and Phillip Munoz; sister, Antonia Munoz; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. She is survived by her two sons, John Ortiz and Charlie (Alicia) Ortiz; two daughters, Mary (Bob) Thomas and Pauline (Shawn) Sloan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank all who have extended prayers and concern to us during this time. Greer’s Mortuary handled the arrangements.
