MOHAWK-Josephine Irene Mead age 84 of Michigan Street passed away peacefully on Monday March 3, 2014in St. Elizabeths Medical Center, Utica. She had the support and comfort of her loving family by her side.She was born on August 17, 1929 in Herkimer, daughter of the late Lenzo and Bessie Crandall Dye. A lifelong area resident she was raised and educated in Herkimer. She was first married to Harry Murphy. She resided in Ilion until moving to Mohawk in 1952 where she has resided since. On May 24, 1980 she was united in marriage with Stanley Mead in the Mohawk Reformed Church. They shared a devoted union of eleven years until his passing in 1991. Mrs. Mead had worked at General Electric in Utica and Mohawk Data Sciences before going to work for the Remington Arms Company in Ilion. She retired in 1989 after fifteen years of dedicated service.Josephine had a strong faith in God and was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Herkimer. She will always be remembered for her true sense of community. She was a sixty year member of the Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post # 25 Ladies Auxiliary, Mohawk where she had served as president. She served on the Mohawk Zoning Board of Appeals, the Herkimer County Board of Elections, the American Red Cross Blood Mobile and the Ilion-Frankfort Food Pantry. Jo found much joy in doing for others while looking for nothing in return. She was happiest when she was surrounded by her many friends and family especially her cherished grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great granddaughter. She will be sorely missed. Surviving are two sons, Dan Murphy and his wife Christine of Millers Mills, Lee Murphy of Mohawk, a daughter Karen Schrader and her husband Allen of Little Falls, one sister, Winifred Hilts of Little Falls, six grandchildren, Arnold Schrader and his wife Lorie of Little Falls, Allen Hans Schrader and his companion Jennifer Ammermann of Little Falls, Meghan Murphy of Waynesburg, PA, Erin Murphy of Columbia, MO, Courtney Gallagher and her husband Brandon of Pottstown, PA, Michael Murphy of Mohawk, four great grandchildren, Jacoby, Merissa, Kayla and James, one great-great granddaughter Addyson, several nieces, nephews and many special friends. Besides her parents and husband Stanley she was preceded in death by eight brothers, Bernard, Wilfred, Donald, Robert, Gerald, Russell, James and Leo Dye, two sisters, Bernice Loomis and Betty Fralick.Calling hours for Mrs. Mead will be on Saturday March 15, 2014 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street; Herkimer. Funeral service will follow immediately after in the funeral home with the Reverend John Kelly and the Reverend Ronald Fralick officiating. Interment will be later this spring in Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Ilion-Frankfort Food Pantry. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.Members of the Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post # 25 Ladies Auxiliary are asked to meet at the funeral home at 12:45 pm that day for ritualistic services. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Grandma Jos many doctors and staff at St. Es ICU/SCU and Valley Health Rehab for their compassion and care.