Obituary of Josephine Doucette

Josephine M. Doucette, a woman of many facets, titles and roles, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington. She was 95 years old. Josephine grew up in Malden and was a graduate of Malden High School. She furthered her education at a secretarial school. To contribute to the war effort during WWII, she enlisted in the US Coast Guard and honorably served for over 2 years. She was very proud of her service to her country and often talked about her military days to her grandchildren. After the war, in 1950, she went to work for the federal government. She held the position of secretary to chief of legal at the Army Base in Boston. Her strong work ethic granted her a promotion, and reassignment to Raytheon in Andover. It was there she maintained the role as Administration Chief and was responsible for all the administration and personnel of 150 people. She spent 30 years with the Federal government and retired in 1980 as a GS7. After her retirement, unable to sit idle, she returned to the work force and spent additional years at Contact East and then Enterprise Rent-A-Car, eventually retiring again at the age of 82. Josephine was always on the go. She enjoyed going to aerobic classes at the Burlington Recreation Department. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed watching her Boston sports teams on TV. She was a ferocious reader and kept her mind sharp by doing crossword puzzles. She loved watching game shows and was quick to get the correct answers before the contestants and anyone who was visiting with her. She often cracked herself up while reading the comics and found more enjoyment in clipping them out and sending them to friends and family. She always enjoyed telling a good joke or story to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved animals and joked that she had grandchildren and grand dogs. Josephine played an instrumental role in the raising of her grandchildren. She had an in-law apartment in the family home and was like a second mother to them. Because of her petite frame, she was lovingly called “Little Nana” by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She would attend all her grandchildren’s soccer and basketball games and when her great grandchildren arrived she enjoyed attending their soccer, basketball and hockey games. She was in the audience for graduations, school events, and dance recitals. She was a sports enthusiast and one of Burlington’s biggest fans. If her grandchildren did not have a game she would often be found at her grandchildren’s friends sporting events to root them on. Their friends affectionately called her “Nana Ott” and they thought of her as an honorary grandmother. She was supportive, encouraging, kind, thoughtful and generous, and always had a supply of candy in her pocket for the grandchildren and friends. She was open-handed to all her grandchildren helping them with their first cars, college education and weddings. When her four grandchildren came along, Josephine didn’t miss a beat and was there for them without question or judgment. She was a woman who believed in giving back to her community and was very generous to all the local charities, especially those involving the Fire, Police and People Helping People. Some might say that she lived to the age of 95, because she had such a big heart and served as the catalyst for her family. Josephine was the mother of the late William Ott. She was the proud and loving grandmother of Tricia Brisbois & her husband Todd of Wilmington, Lynda Michel & her husband Tim of Reading, Stacy Ott & her partner Samantha Walsh of Reading, and Michael Ott & his wife Cherish of Tewksbury. She was the great grandmother of Grace & Sophia Brisbois and Eva & TJ Michel. Mother-in-law of Linda Ott-Palmisano of Burlington. She was the sister of Dorothy Larochelle of Chelsea, the late Mary “Sissy” Howlett, Marguerite “Peggy” Morgan, Ty and Michael O’Brien. Josephine was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Thursday, April 14 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interment with military honors at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Josephine’s name may be made to the Lincoln Fire Fighters Assoc., 169 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773.