Josephine (Tapia) Fedor, age 88, of Madison WI, and beloved wife of the late Joseph James Fedor, passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 15, 2026, at her care home.

Born in Chicago IL, on November 25, 1937, she was the daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, the late Leobardo Tapia and Guadalupe (Paez) Tapia, and was preceded in death by her beloved brother Paul Tapia and her eldest son, whom she loved so dearly, Gregory Fedor. She honored the sacrifices her parents made to build a better life by insisting on giving her children an even stronger foundation on which to achieve their dreams.

Josie was an angel at heart and dedicated her life to the care of her family, engaging in a variety of jobs across her life in order to help care for and support her family. This included wedding floral delivery and overnight shifts as a switchboard operator at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, IL. She retired as a contract procurement specialist for the Veteran’s Administration in Hines IL, where she repeatedly was cited for her exceptional and outstanding service. It probably also didn’t hurt that she made the best chili dip for every office potluck.

She graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1956, where she played the oboe in the band along with her bandmate, Herbie Hancock. She then completed 2 years of college at Mundelein College in Chicago, studying physics and biology. Although financing was not available for her to complete her degree, she valued education and ensured all of her children attended and completed college.

She was a woman who cared deeply about social justice issues, nature, her community, her faith, her family, and taught her children by example to work for change by doing. Together they prepared sandwiches for distribution to the homeless, rescued wounded animals, drew awareness to the plight of farm workers, and cared for their community of neighbors. She served as a sacristan preparing the sanctuary and the priests’ vestments each week for a number of years at her home parish of St. Luke’s in River Forest, IL. She served her beloved Mexican community as a literacy volunteer of America, helping individuals learn English as a second language and was honored several times with a Literacy Volunteer award. She was never afraid to voice her opinion and wrote many a letter to the editor, business or politician, both with praise and helpful suggestions. She was always pure in her intentions and true in her actions and determination to have her voice heard in order to push for change.

She absolutely loved a good joke, loved to share puns, and loved to laugh. She found joy in so many things throughout her lifetime and will always be remembered for her smile and the laughter that she maintained, even in the most difficult of times. She loved to celebrate life, and nothing was too small to prepare a party for, including beloved pets in the neighborhood. She was a gifted artist, writer, avid reader, and lover of grammar and languages. She loved deeply, and always let her family and others know how much she loved, cared for, and appreciated every act of kindness, support, and gift of love given to her and in turn, gave that same love and kindness back so freely to so many. She led a life of service, love, grace, and quiet strength that withstood every setback life had to offer. She was a shining example of goodness and her children knew she cared about them, believed in them, and was there for them no matter what. Growing up with that kind of love and support made such a difference in their lives. Throughout her life she set an example of unconditional devotion, taught her family valuable life lessons and never lost her indomitable spirit. She will be remembered for her strength, her fierce sense of pride in who she was and where she started life, her generous heart, her sense of humor, and her ability to let you know how loved and cared for you truly were. What a legacy to leave those who loved her most.

Survivors include two of her three loving children, Jennifer Asmus (Michael) and Daniel Fedor (Jessica John), her grandchildren, Natalie, John (Jack), Katelyn, Gabriella, and Giada (Gigi), several nieces, nephews, her godchildren, her supportive and loving sisters, Soledad, Maria, and Lillian, and brother and sisters in-law, Charles and Antonia Fedor and Elizabeth Cromley.

Her family would also like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to the caregivers at St. Mary’s Care Center for the amazing love and care they provided to her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 23, 2026, beginning with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. with mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Church, 7600 Lake Street, River Forest, IL. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 7201 Archer Road, Justice, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Instituto del Progreso Latina, to support the food pantry, education and job training and English literacy skill work they engage in for immigrants in the Chicago area https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/AgOkjw?vid=1pxhok.

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761

Josephine T. Fedor

November 25, 1937 - April 15, 2026

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