Josephine Sophie Harding (nee Szyrszyn) was the youngest of three children born to immigrant parents Antoni and Analya Szyrszyn on March 14, 1914 in Winnipeg, MB. Josephine (Jo) passed away on December 28, 2017 at Pleasant View Care Home and with her son David and daughter-in-law Dianna at her side. Jo went to school for the first time when she was nine years old at the insistence of her mother. Jo along with her siblings, all started school together. School was their first introduction to English. Her father Antoni passed away in 1928, Jo was 14. Maintaining the farm proved too difficult; The family moved to Winnipeg where Jo continued her education at Earl Grey School. She was an active member of the Canadian Girls In Training, which she enjoyed very much. In 1930, Jo turned 16 and started her working life. She took whatever job came her way, which was mostly domestic work for other people. She acquired a full-time housekeeping job working for a Doctor which led her to The Pas, MB., where she met and married Allan William Harding. They were married on March 27, 1941. Allan worked for a bush plane company as a radio operator/agent, serving small communities in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. They were living in Prince Albert when Allan sought employment with Trans Canada Airlines in Edmonton, AB. While living there, their son David was born and because World War II was in full swing Allan volunteered with the Royal Air Force Ferry Command and the family moved to Montreal, QC. On December 16, 1944, Allan’s aircraft was reported missing. The aircraft was never found. Jo and son David moved back to Winnipeg to be with Jo’s sister and other family members. She never remarried. Jo worked where she could, mostly cleaning other peoples homes, cooking or waitressing. Jo’s life was not easy, but she never complained. She always made do with what she had and did so well at it that her son David never ever knew how poor they really were. Sometime in the late 1950’s Jo acquired a full-time job with Midwest Storage and Distributing Co. as an order clerk, where she remained until her retirement in 1979. In 1982, David, Dianna, and grandson Allan, moved to Margo, SK. Jo was quick to follow and acquired a low rental house there. She travelled back and forth between Margo and Winnipeg until David and Dianna moved to Wadena. With the birth of her second grandchild, Jessica, Jo’s mind was made up and she sold her small house in Winnipeg and moved to be full time in Wadena. Little did she realize the extended family she would inherit from the Johnsons and Daviduks. She thoroughly enjoyed all the action that came with the two grandchildren and the six cousins. Christmas, Easter and family gatherings were dear to her heart. To her delight everyone called her “Grandma Jo". Jo participated in David and Dianna’s restaurant business as well, from babysitting when called upon to making perogies or punching out hamburger patties. One of her favorite hobbies was cooking; No one could touch her apple pie. She also enjoyed knitting; She knitted one-piece jumpers for all the babies that were born in the family, plus countless scarves and mittens. She always said that she learned to knit with her sister Helen; all they had were two nails and whatever string they could find. She always had such a nice garden in her backyard, flowers, tulips and gladiolas were her favorite. Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2018 The Chapel of Narfason's 102 1st NW Wadena, Saskatchewan Donations in memory of Josephine may be made to the Pleasantview Care Home Auxiliary, PO Box 10, Wadena, SK S0A 4J0 or to the Weneeda Park Lodge, PO Box 310 Wadena, Saskatchewan S0A 4J0