With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved "Babe", Veronica Margaret Joseph (née Zelina), who peacefully sailed into the heavens from her home in Columbia Station, Ohio — unafraid and with a heart full of love — on August 9, 2026, at the age of 88.

She was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. She was raised 50 miles south in Bobtown, a small coal mining community, by her Hungarian immigrant parents, Joseph Sr. & Margaret Zelina (née. Kosztur).

Babe graduated from Mapletown High School in 1956. Soon after she left home and quickly became one of the fastest typists in Pittsburgh. During this time, she met her future husband, Michael "Mick" John Joseph of California, PA. The lovebirds were married on November 3, 1962, in Bobtown.

The pair moved to Cleveland, Ohio and eventually settled in nearby Columbia Station. Babe worked at their family-owned shoe store where she would do the accounting and other bookwork. They decided to add a bit more chaos to their lives and welcomed their four children - Drew, Ronald, Michael, and Margaret Ann.

Family was the center of her world and anyone that walked through the door was family. Everyone that stopped by the house knew that Babe would always have a fresh pot of coffee brewing and a sweet treat on the table. On weekends, their home buzzed with friends and family coming and going and she would often make dinner large enough to feed a small army.

Babe lovingly tended to her gardens, with special care for her treasured rose bushes. She enjoyed being outside and was regularly spotted accompanied by one of the many pet cats, dogs or birds she had over the years. When she wasn't working or maintaining her home, she could be found sitting on the back porch enjoying the weather with a cup of coffee in hand.

Babe and Mick took great pleasure in traveling. They made many trips to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Windsor. There were many family trips to Florida, California, and Pennsylvania to visit with extended family. In 1999 the pair traveled to Rome and the Vatican with hopes to see then Pope John Paul II… ironically, and to their disappointment, he was visiting the United States during their trip.

Babe loved games of all kinds - crosswords, sudoku, card games, board games and even video games! She may quite possibly be the world's first "gamer". Several Nintendo Entertainment Systems were used "till the wheels fell off" and quickly replaced, and at least two TVs had the opening screen of Super Mario Bros. burned into the screen. She might have beaten the game if it weren't for her grandkids often resetting her progress, though she never seemed to mind too much.

"Grandma" by far was her favorite title. She was blessed with six grandchildren - Ronnie (Eleanor) Bettridge, David Kullic, Madison Lukcso, Joseph S. Joseph, Michael Lukcso, and Braden Luksco. She adored caring for, playing with, and teaching them. She loved to give them treats from "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard" and always made sure it had the tastiest snacks. She was a wonderful grandmother and is deeply loved by all her grandchildren.

Veronica is survived by her four adult children, Drew (Kristi) Joseph, Ronald Joseph, Michael Joseph, and Margaret Ann Lukcso, her grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and one great-great niece. She has left a hole in the hearts of all who met her or sat at her table that can never be filled again.

Veronica was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Sr & Margaret (Kosztur) Zelina, her husband Michael, their son who was born sleeping, her brothers and their wives, Joseph (Louise) Zelina, Richard (Emily) Zelina, her sister and brother-in-law, Lillian (Leland) Gallatin, her son-in-law, Douglas Luksco, husband of her daughter Margaret Ann, and her daughter-in-law, Carmen Joseph, wife of her son Ronald.

The Funeral mass will be Friday, August 21, 2026 at 10:00 am held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 25801 Royalton Rd, Columbia Station, OH 44028. The family encourages everyone to wear pink to honor Veronica. The procession to her entombment will immediately follow the service. She will be entombed at Holy Cross Cemetery, 14609 Brookpark Rd, Brook Park, Ohio 44142. A lunch will be provided after; the family will announce the location at mass. Please contact Margaret Ann, at 440-570-9694, if you plan on attending the luncheon.