Josephine Generie Kikla – Brentwood, Formerly of Donora and Valley Inn

Our beloved mother, Josephine Generie Kikla, 92, received last rights and passed away on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, in Carlisle, Pa. Josephine was born on Feb. 13, 1928, in Donora, the daughter of Joseph and Julia Generie. She married Victor W. Kikla in November 1950. Together they built a house in Valley Inn, Pa., and lived there for many years before heading to Los Angeles, where they spent two years before returning to the Pittsburgh area. Eventually, Vic and Josephine settled in Brentwood, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where they resided for over 45 years. Josephine was an avid sports fan all of her life, enthusiastically following the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Penguins. She was also a faithful member of St. Sylvester’s Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood, where she was a very active member of the Women’s Altar Guild. Josephine’s home was the center of holiday gatherings and family celebrations. Her door was always open and she would throw another handful of spaghetti in the pot and invite you to stay for dinner. She was an excellent cook and baker, spending her time in her kitchen making traditional homemade nut roll, pierogies, raviolis and halupki, all from scratch, and her Christmas cookies were beautiful as well as delicious. Josephine also loved to dance and was voted the area Polka Queen two years in a row. Her goal in life was to be a good wife and mother — and she accomplished her goal every day of her life. Josephine was the last of her generation for both the Kikla and Generie families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Kikla, who passed on Aug. 28, 2007; her sisters, Marie Rice of San Diego, Calif., Pauline “Peggy” Suarez of Donora, Mildred “Millie” Pankiewicz of Donora and Dolores “Dolly” Horner of New Jersey; and her brothers, Joseph and Richard Generie of Donora. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Kikla Ashcom and Dr. James Ashcom of Gaithersburg, Md.; her son, Capt. Richard Kikla, U.S. Navy (retired) and Commander Elizabeth Hrnicek Kikla, U.S. Navy (retired) of Carlisle; and grandchildren, Jennifer and Thomas Ashcom, and Evan and Kira Kikla, as well as several generations of nieces, nephews and cousins. We found an old metal button box sitting high on the shelf in her kitchen and imagine that each button represents a dear person she held close to her heart. That treasure box was completely full, clear to the top. She was loved by all who knew her. We will miss her warm smile and generous heart. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to a veterans organization of your choice. Due to the coronavirus, a memorial service will be planned for the spring or early summer as appropriate.