Josepha A. Desjardins

Josepha Anne “Dodie” Desjardins, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt, passed
away peacefully with family after an extended illness on March 17, 2023, at Clemson Downs in
Clemson, South Carolina. She was eighty-five years old.

Dodie was born on May 22, 1937, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to the late Francis Germanowski
and Mary (Zaorski) Germanowski, where she had to walk up hill (both ways) to school because
she was too small for the bus driver to see her waving her nickel. She is survived by her
husband of sixty-three years, Richard “Dick” Desjardins, her brother Francis “Frank”
Germanowski (who bought her the most beautiful ice skates in the world when he got his first
job), and his wife Marlene; her children Richard and his wife Amy (Falter) of Mount Pleasant,
SC; Michelle and Robert “Bob” Hicks of San Diego, CA; and Lisa (and her naughty cats) of
Seneca, SC; her grandchildren Luke Desjardins, Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” Desjardins, Grace
Desjardins, and Matthew Hicks, and her many beloved nieces and nephews.

Dodie retired from a long career of social work with the State of South Carolina and enjoyed her
second life on Lake Hartwell pursuing her talents and hobbies including painting, bread making,
skinny dipping, cooking, entertaining, sewing, and folk dancing. She was a member of Saint
Andrew Catholic Church in Clemson, a volunteer at Clemson Community Care, and a reading
tutor for young children at public schools in the community.

Dodie and Dick engaged in amazing travel adventures ranging from scary – getting stranded in
remote areas of Greece – to strange – being blessed by tribal medicine men in Africa. They also
enjoyed frequently visiting friends and family in New England and family beach trips.
Dodie’s family is humbled by her sixty-three years of love and devotion to her husband, her
amazing culinary skills, her ability to organize family trips, parties, and guests with grace and
efficiency, and her encouragement of her children’s culinary adventures (I am sure it will taste
delicious!)

Dodie will be missed by those who knew and loved her. But rejoice with us that her suffering is
ended and she is now with the angels and saints in heaven in the arms of our loving God.

A funeral mass will be held at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Clemson at 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, March 23, 2023, followed by a reception at the church hall. A family gathering will be
held at a later date to commemorate her life.

Duckett-Robinson Funeral and Cremations is assisting the family.