Frances "Josie" Henning

Frances Josephine Henning passed away on May 28, 2026, with her family by her side. Josie was born April 26, 1945 in Washington D.C. to Margaret K. Burke and John P. Burke. She was raised in the close-knit Brookmont neighborhood of Bethesda and attended Holy Trinity School, Little Flower School and graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. She excelled at academics, sport and dance. She received an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Following college, Josie served as a VISTA volunteer in Bronx, New York. She then moved to California, where she established a center for early childhood education in the Central Valley. Josie was a gifted teacher and after raising her children, she received a masters degree in education from Pennsylvania State University and went on to serve students again as a director of career services at Pennsylvania College of Technology. More recently, while living in Virginia, she became a certified mediator, guiding parties to dispute resolution outside of court.

She met Phil, her husband of 56 years, in San Francisco. Their first child, Job, was born in Pennsylvania in 1972 and was followed by his sisters, Amelia, Mercy and Lily. A legendarily welcoming hostess, Josie loved to cook and bake bread. She passed her quietly impressive knowledge and appreciation of the natural world to her children. She was a reader, an incisive thinker, creative, practical and a lover of beauty, finding it in unexpected places.

Josie is survived by her husband Phil, daughter-in-law Nino Japaridze (Job), her daughters Amelia Walker (Aaron), Mercy Souder (Mike), and Lily Edelstein (Russell) and 11 grandchildren: Elene, Audrey, and Jesse Henning; Lukas, Genevieve, Maria and Nicky Walker; Emmett, Jude, and Eva Souder; and Lena Edelstein. She is also survived by her brother Robert Burke and his wife Kathy, and a host of loving nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her cherished son, Job Carroll Henning, and her brother Richard E. Burke.

Until the end of her life, Josie was affectionate and brought joy to those around her. The family is forever grateful for the care and nourishment of soul and body that she received at VMRC in Harrisonburg, VA. Donations can be made in her name to VMRC or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Funeral to be held 4 PM on Friday, June 19 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Harrisonburg, VA, with a memorial reception to follow. Arrangements by McMullen Funeral Home.