Josiane Anna Pennamen was born June 25, 1894, in Lorient, France. She emigrated to the United States in December of 1928 on the S.S. De Grasse, traveling from Le Havre to New York City in nine days. She left her mother still living at 33 Rue du Dragon in Paris, France; and stated she had a friend- M. Daugherty, who lived at 46 Coleridge St. in Manhattan Beach. She declared her intention was to stay in the U.S. "always", and become a citizen. Josiane worked as a dressmaker, and was 5'6" tall, with red hair and brown eyes.
In 1933 Josiane was living on West 49th Street in New York City, still employed as a dressmaker, or "seamstress." In October of 1936 she returned to France for a visit. She traveled home from Boulogne-sur-Mer to New York City on the S.S. Statendam, by way of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Josiane became a citizen of the U.S. on December 13, 1945, in the New York Southern District Court. She was then living at 159 East 51st Street in New York City. She remained at this address at least through 1952.
She made at least two more trips to France: returning from there on the S.S. Wisconsin in November of 1948; leaving for France on the Queen Mary in July of 1949 (initially intending to remain for six months); and returning from Cherbourg, France to New York City on the Queen Elizabeth in May of 1952.
Josiane Pennamen died at the age of 98, on July 14, 1992, at the Coler-Goldwater Memorial Hospital in New York City. She is buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; NY, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995; NY, Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989; U.S., Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1914-1965.