HAMAN – Josephine Olivia, 11, Windber, lost her three-year battle with leukemia Feb. 5, 2010, at home. Born June 16, 1998, she was the oldest daughter of Jeffrey and Rebecca (Ozimok) Haman. Preceded in death by grandparents, Charles and Mary Ozimok, Windber. Survived by her parents; sisters, Emma and Lucy Haman; grandparents, David and Marion Haman; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Josie was the love of her parents lives. She was a gifted student at Windber Middle School who loved to read and had amassed a large library by the age of 10. She loved competing in the regional reading team competitions, making her nurses rush to give her chemo just so she could get to the events on time. She also was a gifted writer and artist who enjoyed illustrating her own stories and poems, but her true passion was horses. She had longed to regain strength so that she could, once again, ride her American Paint named Scooby. She had a charming personality and was ready to have fun at a moments notice. Since she was diagnosed with cancer at age 8, her friends and the support received by her community had been the strength that kept her going. Her friends have come to her aid many times to show support and offer strength. In turn Josie’s strength and courage were a source of inspiration to those around her. Josie’s fight against cancer took her to the finest hospitals in the country: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The National Institute of Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Each time, her will to live pushed her to fight on, never accepting defeat and vowing to fight until her last breath. We will miss her silliness, hearing her laughter and seeing her beautiful smile. Though her life was brief, it was beautiful, and will remain in the hearts of those she touched forever. We are better people for having her as our daughter. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Hugh W. Marron Funeral Home, Windber, where Parastas will be held at 6:30 p.m. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Windber, preceded by brief service at 9:30 a.m. at the furneral home, Father Gregory Michalisin, pastor. “Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold, Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.” – Robert Frost.
