JOSEPHINE MARY QUENZER
1931 — 2021
Heaven received a new angel with the passing of Josephine (Josie) Mary Quenzer in the early morning hours of September 4, 2021. Born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 5, 1931 to parents Frank and Anna Rose Battaglia, Josie was the firstborn of their four children. The Battaglia family, along with Frank’s stateside brothers and their families, moved west in the mid 1930’s to make Lodi, California their home. In her early years, Josie was happy to accompany her father, Frank, as he tended to various grape vineyards, cherry orchards, and a fruit packing business. Growing up in Lodi, she attended St. Anne’s Catholic School. She was a great storyteller, as was her father, thus family and friends heard many a tale of her younger years going to dances, cruising the downtown and popping into the local burger joints, having fun with her friends, adventures traveling to Ohio by train to visit her mother’s side of the family, her early home life, and stories of her own family.
On July 7, 1951 she married John Quenzer and began a life-long career as a housewife and mother, as the family grew to eventually include four children. Josie had a special place in her heart for animals, especially dogs. She enjoyed reading, watching NASCAR races, shopping, the occasional trip to Lake Tahoe to play to the slots, and visiting with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Quenzer in 2006; parents, Frank and Anna Rose Battaglia; sister, Francis Dennis of Las Vegas, NV; and son-in-law, William “Bill” Fortuna.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda (Bill) Fortuna, Diane Thomas, and Valerie (Michael) McFee all of Lodi; son, David (Laura) Quenzer of Cottage Grove, Oregon; eight grandchildren, Lori Fortuna, Lisa Johnson, and Justin Thomas of Lodi, CA, Tiffiney Quenzer of Ione, CA, and Stephanie Cooper, Amber Quenzer, David Quenzer, and Christine Quenzer of Cottage Grove, Oregon; as well as ten great grandchildren. Josie is also survived by her brothers Frank, Jr. and Joseph Battaglia of Lodi and many dear nieces and nephews.
Visitation is available on Thursday, September 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Friday, September 17 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi. Entombment will be private at Temple of Memories Mausoleum, Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi, CA. If would like to honor her passing and love of animals, memorial donations may be made to: Animal Friends Connection Humane Society, P.O. Box 2314, Lodi, CA 95241. Her Journey’s Just
Begun Don’t think of her as gone
away - her journey’s just begun; life holds so many facets -
this earth is only one. Just think of her as resting from the sorrows and the
tears in a place of warmth and
comfort where there are no days
and years. Think how she must be
wishing that we could know, today, how nothing but our sad
ness can really pass away. And think of her as living in the hearts of those she
touched . . . for nothing loved is ever
lost — and she was loved so
much
Ellen Brenneman Please sign the guest book at lodinews.com/guestbook.