Josephine Goodwill was born Josephine Dobrow on August 5, 1911 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Joseph and Amelia Dobrow. Her parents were both Lithuanian immigrants, and she had two brothers, Joseph born in 1913, and Edward born in 1916.
In 1920 the family was living in Brooklyn, where father Joseph worked in a grocery store. He changed careers before 1925, when he became a real estate agent. Five years more and the family was living on Grand Street in Brooklyn, in a house valued at $15,500. Josephine's father was the proprietor of an insurance agency, and Josephine at the age of 18 was working as a stenographer for an insurance agent, likely her father.
In 1940 Josephine's mother Amelia Dobrow died. Her brothers were single adults with full-time jobs, Joseph made a career in the Coast Guard, and Joseph Jr. was a fireman in the City Fire Department.
Sometime between 1940 and 1951, Josephine was living in California where her Social Security number was issued. She used at least three other names according to her Social Security records: Joan Mary Dobrow, Josephine Margood, and Josephine Goodwill. Josephine was able to claim her Social Security Benefits beginning August 20, 1974.
Josephine's brother Edward died on September 30, 1968, and her father Joseph Dobrow died on August 27, 1976.
Josephine Goodwill's last residence was in New York, New York. She died on December 2, 1993 at NY Health and Hospitals/Metropolitan. She was buried January 6, 1994 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1920, 1930, and 1940 US Federal Censuses; NY, US, State Census, 1925.
In 1920 the family was living in Brooklyn, where father Joseph worked in a grocery store. He changed careers before 1925, when he became a real estate agent. Five years more and the family was living on Grand Street in Brooklyn, in a house valued at $15,500. Josephine's father was the proprietor of an insurance agency, and Josephine at the age of 18 was working as a stenographer for an insurance agent, likely her father.
In 1940 Josephine's mother Amelia Dobrow died. Her brothers were single adults with full-time jobs, Joseph made a career in the Coast Guard, and Joseph Jr. was a fireman in the City Fire Department.
Sometime between 1940 and 1951, Josephine was living in California where her Social Security number was issued. She used at least three other names according to her Social Security records: Joan Mary Dobrow, Josephine Margood, and Josephine Goodwill. Josephine was able to claim her Social Security Benefits beginning August 20, 1974.
Josephine's brother Edward died on September 30, 1968, and her father Joseph Dobrow died on August 27, 1976.
Josephine Goodwill's last residence was in New York, New York. She died on December 2, 1993 at NY Health and Hospitals/Metropolitan. She was buried January 6, 1994 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1920, 1930, and 1940 US Federal Censuses; NY, US, State Census, 1925.