Josephine Schornak

Jo Schornak (don't call her Josephine!) of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, beloved mother, sister, and friend, passed away on June 22, 2026, at the age of 87, with her son and "favorite" daughter-in-law at her side. She'd spent the last year entertaining the exceptionally loving staff at Blissful Cottage in Petoskey, Michigan.

Jo was born on September 2, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan. Jo was the successful owner of the small business Ms. Filers, employing and empowering other women. Jo's varied interested included garage sales, gardening, bird watching, painting, transcribing immigrant ship logs, documenting her family genealogy, ballroom dancing, traveling, and quilting. At her home in Grosse Pointe, she had neighbors that treated her as family with whom she shared many happy times. Those that knew her experienced her generosity, her dry wit, and sometimes her sharp tongue.

Jo is survived by her loving son, Scott Schornak, daughter-in-law Sarah Votta Schornak, and her cherished grandchildren, Riley, Jacob, and Sophie Schornak. She will be missed by her sister Carol Herzenstiel, brother-in-law Richard Herzenstiel, nephews Gary (Jen) and Frank (Mary) Herzenstiel, niece Paige Gannon, grandniece Leah Gannon, and grandnephews Drew Gannon, Cale and Owen Herzenstiel, as well as many other Schornak/Damm family members.

Josephine was preceded in death by her mother, Clara Buggy (Abbate), and her husband of almost 50 years, Gerald Schornak.

In accordance with Jo's wishes, her cremains will be interred with her husband's at Great Lakes National Cemetery at a private ceremony later this summer. A mass intention will be said in her honor at Cross in the Woods Catholic Shrine of Indian River in June of 2027.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ann's Nest at annsnest.org or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org in honor of Jo Schornak.

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