Josephine Marie Reilly Kobernat, born November 21, 1926, died on October 4, 2016. She was the only child of Will and Hilda Reilly, and grew up on Madison Street in the King William historic district, attending St. Mary's Parochial School through her graduation in 1944. During her high school years, Jo was a leading mezzo soprano in both the church and school choirs, being called upon often to serve as soloist for weddings, funerals and special devotional services during the war.

In 1944, while attending Incarnate Word College, Josephine met her husband, Leonard Kobernat, at the Catholic U.S.O. She said that she knows for a fact there is such a thing as "love at first sight," for they were both equally smitten, and married in 1945. They moved to the north side of San Antonio where they raised their four children--Cory, Greg, Steven, and Ann-Marie.  (Jo was the last surviving original resident of her block in Terrell Hills). Through the years there, Jo served in the church choirs of both St. Peter's and St. Pius X parishes.  During the 1960's and 70's, she continued to take piano and voice lessons to improve her own musical craft, and she arranged and delivered ballet lecture demonstrations at public schools throughout San Antonio, in an effort to introduce a broader audience of children to the riches of culture.

Jo maintained a lifelong love of the fine arts--especially opera, classical music, ballet and theater--and was an avid reader of biographies, finding the human personality and life story infinitely fascinating. She frequently seized upon the characteristic sayings of her family and loved ones, joyfully bringing them back to memory in conversation as she recounted their stories in great detail. Jo's exuberant laughter, easily-triggered sense of humor, distinctively lilting speech, open-minded acceptance of diversity, affirming and unconditional love, empathic understanding, and continual expressions of gratitude for even the smallest efforts, were pure gift to all who knew her.  Homebound for the last several years of her life, Josephine continued to be a source of inspiration and delight to all who remember her as a "truly great lady".

Preceded in death by her husband Leonard in 2010, she is survived by her sons, Cory (Lorene), Greg (Gary), and Steven (Michele) of San Antonio, her daughter, Ann-Marie Littlefield of Santa Fe, NM; granddaughters Nancy K. Flores (Jesse), Carol Kobernat, and Ayla Koska (Sean); as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family offers grateful thanks to Jo's loving and devoted caregivers: Dolores Esparza, Mary Renteria, Yvette Renteria, Frances Rivera, Lily Garza, Elenia Jares, Edna San Miguel, and Ramona Valencia.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral procession will depart the Angelus Chapel on Wednesday, October 12, at 9:00am for Mass of the Resurrection at 9:30am at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 202 N. St. Mary's St.

Josephine will be laid to rest in San Fernando Cemetery #2.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Donations may be made to the Sam Dibrell Memorial Scholarship Fund, ℅ Alamo Heights High School, 6900 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209 or online at samdibrell.com