A firecracker of a human who said what she felt and stuck to her guns, Josephine Recupero Kline was received into Eternal Life on November 19, 2018. Our Mother had no tolerance for snobs or bigots and lived her life showing her seven children that a person simply had to get on with life…no navel gazing allowed. Born on September 25, 1931, in Furnace Run, Armstrong County, PA to Tillie (Guminey) Recupero and John Recupero, Josephine spent her formative years in West Kittanning, PA, as one of eleven children.
She married Ernest P. Kline June 25, 1949 and together they built a wonderful life in Beaver Falls, and Palmyra, PA. As most of the women of her generation, she showed by example that one must give back to society by volunteer work and commitment to a mission. No one’s checkbook was safe when Josie was soliciting for one of her causes!
Starting with volunteer work at Providence Hospital and St. Mary School in Beaver Falls, PA to her churches St. Paul the Apostle in Annville and Holy Spirit in Palmyra, along with a 40 year commitment to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Gift Shop there, as well as being part of the establishment of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Dinner of Champions in Hershey, PA, to caring for Vietnamese refugees who arrived at Ft. Indiantown Gap in the airlifts of 1975, Mother gave all of her energy. Her commitment to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party was steadfast and she could campaign door to door and sell tickets for fundraising dinners with gusto.
Her volunteer work earned her accolades which she never discussed. With her moxie, came genuine kindness. Mother received the YMCA World Service Citation from the National Council of YMCA’s for her outstanding support and compassion for Indo-China refugees, “new arrivals in a strange land”.
She received multiple commendations from the United States Army Garrison at Ft. Indiantown Gap for helping to facilitate refugee placement throughout the United States. Her years of service to the Hershey Medical Center were recognized through various awards, including serving over 10,000 hours throughout her 40 years of devotion.
She leaves to mourn her loss seven children, Patricia Kline Just (Fred) of Pittsburgh, PA, Hon. Samuel A. Kline (Ann Henderson Kline) of Lebanon, PA, Michael Kline of Harrisburg, PA, John P. Kline (Monica Kramer Kline) of Harrisburg, PA, Vincent J. Kline (Jennifer Lauck Kline) of Harrisburg, PA, Myra Ann Taylor (Jeanne Zeck) of Harrisburg, PA, and Monica Kline (Dennis Balbac) of Myerstown, PA and twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren throughout the United States. Her surviving siblings are Martha McMasters of Leechburg, PA, Alice Marshall of Youngwood, PA, Genevieve Fox of West Kittanning, PA, and Angelo Recupero of Kittanning, PA.
Services will be held on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Church of the Holy Spirit, 245 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA. Visitors will be received in the Narthex 9AM to 11AM. Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM, followed by interment at Gravel Hill Cemetery.
Please wear bright colors to honor a life well-lived. Mother loved flowers, but loved more a devotion to goodness through volunteering and hard work within one’s own community. Consider honoring her, and yourself, in that way.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
