Josefina Magcala Williamson

Josefina M. Williamson (Mercado) was born on February 19, 1941 to Eliseo and Maria Rizal in the City of Biñan, Laguna, Philippines. She was the second born of ten siblings. Josefina, affectionately known as Lola - the Tagalog word for "grandmother" - was a lifelong Catholic that enjoyed gardening, cheating at Scrabble, telling everyone how pretty she was, and making people laugh. She met her beloved husband, David, a Peace Corps volunteer, when they were both teaching at the same school in the Philippines. They married in 1969, and Josefina left the world she knew to emigrate to the US with her husband three years later. Married for 39 years, David preceded her in death, as did her parents and one sister.

Surviving are her children Ayesha (Rich) Franklin of Hastings, MI; Aaron (Jill) Williamson of Noblesville, IN; and six grandchildren - Henry and Viktor Williamson, Zara, Zach, Katie, and John (Chloe) Franklin. Her grandchildren were her absolute love, caring for Viktor and Henry while she still lived in Indianapolis, and then being cared for by Zach and Zara when she moved to Michigan six years ago.

It was Josefina's wish that there would not be a memorial service. Per her request, her remains will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean to be reunited with her husband. In lieu of flowers, we respectfully request that donations be made to the Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy Program, a program that brought her great joy in her last days. Donations can be made at https://give.corewellhealth.org/hospice-donation or mailed to 1239 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525.

And finally, we leave you with this parting advice for which Lola was famous: "If you are going to talk about someone, do it quietly." When we talk about Lola, it won't be quiet and it will always be about how much she was loved.

Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net .