Josephine Kovacic Lensler

Josephine Lensler, 90, a longtime resident of Bowie, Maryland for 51 years and later of Odenton, Maryland for eight years, passed away peacefully on her 90th birthday, February 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. 

She was the devoted wife of the late Karl Lensler, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage. She was a beloved mother to Karen Kendall (Bill) of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Linda Holiman of Bowie; a cherished grandmother to Madeline Holiman, Karly Kendall, and Olivia Kendall; and a loving great-grandmother to Thelonious Roberts, son of Madeline. She is also survived by her brothers, Leon Kovacic and Paul Kovacic. 

Josephine was born on February 12, 1935, in Herrick Center, Pennsylvania, the tenth of twelve children of Carl and Sophie Kovacic. Her father immigrated from Slovenia, and her mother’s family also immigrated from Slovenia. 

Born deaf, Josephine faced challenges with remarkable resilience and determination. At just six years old, she began attending the Pennsylvania State Oral School in Scranton, returning home only for summers and holidays. She later continued her education at DePaul Institute for the Deaf and St. Elizabeth Seton High School in Pittsburgh. 

Despite the barriers for deaf students at the time, Josephine excelled academically. She graduated from Marywood College in Scranton in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, as the only deaf student in her graduating class. She furthered her studies in Library Science at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and embarked on a fulfilling career as a librarian, first with the District of Columbia library system and later at The Catholic University. It was during this time that she met her husband, Karl, at a church picnic. Fortuitously, Karl was taking sign language classes and was able to ask her on a date. The two married in 1961 and, in 1965, settled into their new home in Bowie.

Josephine built a long career as a federal employee, working as a librarian and later as an accountant for the Smithsonian Institution until her retirement in 1997. 

Her faith was a cornerstone of her life. Since the late 1970s, she was a devoted parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Deaf Church in Landover Hills, Maryland. She was actively involved in the deaf community, cherishing the friendships she formed at church, within the Red Hat Society, and among local deaf senior groups. 

Josephine found joy in baking, reading, and spending time with her family, especially babysitting her granddaughters. She spoke with her deaf brother on a video phone every other day and embraced technology, using texting and Facebook to stay connected with her loved ones. She was very independent and took great pride in navigating a hearing world with confidence and grace. Long before interpreters were commonplace, she fearlessly attended a hearing college, pursued a professional career, and traveled across the U.S. and Europe. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 22, at 11:00 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at 12:45 p.m., all taking place at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Deaf Church, 7202 Buchanan Street, Landover Hills, MD 20784. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Deaf Church in her honor.