Josefa "Chepa" Hernandez, age 88 of Miamisburg, Ohio, formerly of Defiance, passed away peacefully at the Ohio Hospice of Dayton on Thursday, December 14, 2023. She was born on March 31, 1935 to Simon and Clarita (Guevarra) Garcia in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Josefa worked as a teacher's assistant for Head Start and a migrant program. She served as a board member of the Defiance County Health Department. She was a member of St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church in Miamisburg, OH. As a former member of St. John's Catholic Church in Defiance, she was active with the Christian Mother's and Altar Society and the Guadalupana Society.

Josefa was the kindest, most loving person known for her delicious cooking, her tamales and tortillas were the best. The neighborhood children looked at her as a second Mom and her tortillas with butter was the most requested snack. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, often playing games and Loteria. She was also known to spend a little time at casinos.

Josefa married her grade school sweetheart, Concepcion Hernandez, her "Clark Gable" on January 28, 1956. They were married for 66 years and had eight children. He preceded her in death on April 26, 2022. Josefa is survived by her children, Sylvia Zatari, Javier (Ann Marie), Cristina (Mike) Thompson, Clarita Hernandez, Faustina Layne, Rogelio (Cathy) Hernandez, Connie (John) Skaggs, and  Gerardo Hernandez. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Cristina Gibson, Colin Layne, Clara Carter, Alex Layne, Simon Hernandez, Allissa Hernandez, Benjamin Hernandez, Elisa Skaggs, three step-granddaughters, Shelbe Lane, Brandy Skaggs and Megan Magana, and three great-grandchildren, Isabella Gibson, Sean Gibson, Mariah Carter, and four step-great-grandchildren, Lucy, Pearl, Marigold and Luke Lane, her brother Raul Garcia Sr., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Simon and Clarita Garcia, husband, Concepcion Hernandez, brother Rosalio Garcia and stepsister Grabiela (Garcia) Cantu.. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 2:00 to 8:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance, with a Rosary Service at 2:00 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at St. John Catholic Church, with Fr. Jason D'Souza officiating. Burial will follow the service at Riverview Memory Gardens. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Hospital, or St. John Catholic Church.