By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Josephine Laptewicz came into the world Sept. 15, 1924, as Gelsomina Theresa Zarba. She was born in the second-floor bedroom of her father’s home on Devens Street in Marlborough, joining siblings Anthony and Lillian. She was later joined by sisters Albena, Gloria and Viola.
Salvatore and Carmella Zarba moved their family across town from Devens Street to Pleasant Street to a property with a working turkey farm and apple orchard. Josephine spent endless hours picking apples and plucking turkey feathers to prepare birds for feasts at Thanksgiving. It is there that her sister Albena, 88, still lives.
On May 18, 1946, she married Walter Laptewicz. Originally from Southborough, Walter was a milkman for locally owned Sealtest Farms. When the company closed he became an independent milkman for H.P. Hood & Sons until his retirement at which time he became a bus driver for the Southborough Schools.
When they married, Walter and Josephine rented an apartment from her parents at the
home on Devens Street where she was born. A few years later they built a home at 60 Flagg Road in Southborough, on land which Walter’s parents had given to them as a wedding gift and which was adjacent to their own. They moved here during a hurricane in September of 1950. The couple had five children: Joanne, Walter, Robert, James and Donna.
Today Joanne lives in West Roxbury with her husband James; Walter Jr., vice president of operations at Donahue Industries, Inc., and his wife Nancy live in Berlin; Robert lives in Westborough with his wife, Janice Cote, and is the owner of Bob’s NAPA Autoparts; James lives in Augusta, Maine, with his wife Kathy; Donna and her husband Lou live in North Carolina.
Josephine has 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
After Walter’s passing in 1994, Josephine continued to live on Flagg Road until 2010 when she rented the ‘Old Homestead’ to her nephew Robbie and his wife Shannon. In 2012 the home was sold.
For the past four years Josephine has lived at Whitney Place in Westborough – bouncing back and forth between Whitney Suites and Beaumont Rehabilitation.
Josephine has spent her life surrounded by family.
“Her family has always come first,” her son Walter said. “She loves her family with her whole heart and her whole soul. She loves people. She loves life. Her favorite mantra today is ‘What a life!’”
In September, or perhaps early October, Josephine celebrated her 90th birthday.
“Josephine has two birthdays, but it wasn’t always that way,” Walter explained. “For years we were told that she was born on Oct. 6, 1924, so that’s when we celebrated it. Then one year when she and my father were planning a vacation to Italy she had to get a passport for the trip. That’s when she found out that her birthday was actually Sept. 15. After much thought she decided that she’d rather celebrate her birthday on Oct. 6 because, she said, ‘It makes me feel younger!’”
On Sept. 27, Josephine’s family gathered at Arturo’s Restaurant in Westborough to
celebrate her milestone birthday. As the matriarch of the family, Josephine wore a crown with a red heart and flashing lights and carried a silver staff. A banner reading “The Queen of our Hearts” hung on the wall.
After the “Queen’s Happy Hour,” Josephine’s cousin Frank Zarba serenaded her with three songs from his latest CD. Dinner followed along with cake and gifts. When the celebration ended, Josephine “waved like a true queen” and was wheeled down Main Street back to her residence.
(Photos/submitted)
