Josephine Rose Oberlin

March 7, 1927 – March 2, 2026

Josephine Rose Oberlin walked through Heaven’s  gate on March 2, 2026, while peacefully surrounded by family and her many favorite songs. Her children fondly recall her singing many of those songs throughout their childhood. 

Josephine was a woman small of stature with the spirit of a giant!  She had an infectious and CONSTANT smile known to anyone with the good fortune to have met her. A life long resident of Akron, OH, she was primarily of Jewish and Hungarian descent.  

You would never know based on her unwavering smile that Josephine overcame a difficult childhood. As an adult, she did things her way. She created and led an army of a family with her late husband of almost 70 years, Benjamin Oberlin, giving them the life she longed for. Her troops included - 6 children, Debbie Oberlin (step-daughter), David, Bruce (Shela), Ben (Donna), Rachelle Bujorian (Tom), and Renee Fair (Tim); 20 grandchildren  (+ spouses); 30 great grandchildren and counting. In addition to this, Josephine leaves behind beloved sisters Joanne Mincia and Theresa Castro, along with countless extended family she loved dearly.  

Her many friends can’t be counted, but the Waterloo Rd donut shop gang, of 55+ years, will surely miss its most tenured member. Cornerstone Church where Ben & Josephine were the oldest members, will forever remember her sparkling presence.

Josephine was known for walking miles everywhere she needed to go around Akron, which surely contributed to her long life.  Along her many miles she made countless friends, freely sharing her signature smile, giving an excited wave, and asking about their day.  Her smile and wave will be missed by many, even those who may not know her name.  

She had a special gift for storytelling, especially her famous “big fish” tales. The fish may have grown a bit larger with each retelling, but so did the laughter around her. Those stories became family legends and are a cherished part of her legacy.

A devoted stay-at-home mother, she still found time to balance a wall-papering business she ran with her best friend Rhoda.  Her meticulous bookkeeping and money management skills led to her and Ben’s ability to acquire family rental properties and take many family vacations despite a modest income.

Josephine’s legacy will carry on through her family and the lives she touched.  Her smile will live on through us, and everytime we smile, we will think of her.  

Gute nacht, schlaf  (entok) gut!  You are dearly missed!  All of us will be looking forward to meeting you and dad, up in that big donut shop in the sky someday!  

Token phrases:  “Oy Vey” -  “Livin and learnin not doin much earning” - “Bad girl” - “Finer than frog’s fur” - “Don't forget, mention my name and you'll get a good seat” (anytime someone went to the bathroom) - “Oh Ben”……If you know, you know…….