Josephine Theresa Chelberg

Josephine Theresa Chelberg, age 92, passed away peacefully at her Rockville, Maryland home on Sunday morning, Feb 9th. She was under the care of Montgomery Hospice and surrounded by her family.

Josephine was born in New York City, September 30, 1932. She was the second born to Joseph and Mary Catherine (Molly) Martin, immigrants from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Joining her older sister Margaret Martin Dolan and quickly followed by her brother, Peter Martin, who both preceded her in death. Raised in the Catholic School system, she was a devout follower throughout her entire life. Married to Roger Chelberg, they raised five children living mainly in NYC, New Jersey, overseas in Rota Spain and finally in Maryland. Josephine was a homemaker and part time employee of Montgomery Doughnuts in Gaithersburg.

Josie is survived by son Joseph J Chelberg (Evelyn) of Jacksonville, Florida, daughter Anne Chelberg Ledger (Patrick) of Rockville, son John F Chelberg (Shari) of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, and Kathleen Chelberg Montgomery (Richard) of Adamstown, Maryland. Josie was preceded in death by her husband, Roger W. Chelberg, her parents, Joe and Molly, her sister Margaret, brother Peter and her son Roger P. Chelberg in 2016. She was most proud to have three grandchildren: Ryan Chelberg of Hardy, Virginia, Colleen Ledger-Ward (James B Ward, III) of Rockville and Sean Ledger (Trang) of Silver Spring. Josie has a large family of Cousins, Martins, Brennans, Werkhovens, residing in the NYC area, as well as Florida, many nieces and nephews in the same area and in Colorado.

Josephine was active in her churches. As a parishioner of St. Martin of Tours, since the early 80s, she served as a Eucharistic Minister to the faithful at the Asbury Home in Gaithersburg and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. She was commended for her Volunteer service to both with awards recognition. Josie was active with Saint Patrick's, Saint Mary's, Our Lady of Poland, The Legion of Mary, Flame of Love of St. Patrick's Church, Right to Life Annual Protest at the Capital, Gabriel Project and other ministries. Josie made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Bosnia and also to Our Lady of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland and she traveled to Fatima, Portugal, Notre Dame, Paris, Sevilla Basilica de la Macarena and Seville Cathedral. There are so many more Churches that she visited during our family's residency in Rota, Spain, I can't name them all. Locally, she was a visitor to Holy Love in Ohio and a multiple Church pilgrimage to Montreal, Canada.

A praying of the Rosary and Visitation will begin at 1pm on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Rockville, MD; where the Funeral Mass will begin at 2pm. 

Josephine will join her husband in Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date.