Josephine "Jo" Yarish

Roaming Shores – Josephine “Jo” Yarish, age 98, passed away at her home on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with her children nearby. She was born in Cleveland on February 12, 1928, the daughter of Louis and Mary (Cvet) Hocevar. Josephine married Kenneth J. Yarish on October 18, 1958. She worked for Richmond Brothers as a seamstress from 1946 until the birth of her daughter in 1959. During that time, she also started taking evening classes at Euclid Academy of Beauty School in Cleveland. Even though she was unable to complete her education there, her family and many of her friends benefited from hair cuts and perms until just several years ago, as her arthritis worsened. She was a stay-at-home mom lovingly caring for her family until the premature death of her husband in 1979.  She was assistant cook for Community Action Meals on Wheels at Sacred Heart Church in Rock Creek until that site was closed. Then she and her friend Cindy operated a catering business for many years. She was Msgr. Edward Kowaleski’s cook, too. Josephine was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church since the family moved to Rome from Cleveland in 1966. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and cooked for their various fundraisers.  She was a member of the Roman Candles Auxiliary of the Rome Volunteer Fire Department, helping at their famous Fish Fry and cooking for other events. She also supported other local churches with her cooking skills when they needed an extra hand. During her employment at Richmond Brothers, she won 2nd place in the Company’s Beauty Contest when she was 19 years old.   Jo sewed many a costume for Countryside Players theater productions in the 1980s. She also received awards from the local Knights of Columbus Council 5589: Lady of the Year, 2008; Volunteer of the Year, 2018; and Family of the Year, 2021. In addition to her love of cooking and hospitality, she enjoyed helping her friends by driving them to appointments.  She was an avid reader of whatever she got her hands on, especially newspapers and mystery/suspense and historical novels. She loved animals and really missed having a dog in her later years. She is survived by her children Kathleen (Dale) Pentek and Kenneth Yarish Jr. of Roaming Shores. Josephine is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth J. Yarish, her parents Mary and Louis Hocevar, siblings Mary (Joseph) Sochinsky, Louis J. Hocevar Jr., Frank M. Hocevar, Alice Hocevar, Helen (Kazmier) Wasilewski, Theresa (Richard) Leszczynski, Donald Hocevar and two infant twin boys. 

A funeral mass, officiated by Rev. Fr. Kevin McCaffrey will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 3049 State Rt. 45 N., Rock Creek, OH 44084 on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow at Rome Twp. North Cemetery. Visitation will be held the day before, Friday, June 19, 2026, at Paine Funeral Home, Inc., 140 E. Main Street, Orwell, Ohio 44076 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make memorial contributions to Sacred Heart Altar & Rosary Society, Sacred Heart Church, 3049 State Rt. 45 N., Rock Creek, OH, 44085.

Condolences may be made at painefuneralhome.com

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