Josephine K. Solomon, age 97, left this world peacefully at home, in the loving care of her four children on September 19. Josie, aka Jokie, was born in Kansas City on September 4, 1927 to Saul and Esther Kleiman, immigrants from Eastern Europe who became KC’s leading and innovative Hebrew and religious educators. They instilled a love of Jewish tradition, learning, and culture in Josie (and her two beloved older siblings, the late Morton Kleiman and the late Blanche Feiman) that Josie passed along to new generations in both the celebrations and observance in her warm home and in her work for decades as the Educational Director at B’Nai Torah synagogue, and before that, as the children’s director at the Mayer Kaplan JCC. She liked to say that she had joined the “family business.” Possessing an uncommonly large and open heart, Josie loved people – her devotion to and interest in family and friends was unbounded, and her love for humanity overall was an unshakeable principle. She was an accomplished pianist whose fingers miraculously continued to find music at the keyboard even as Parkinson’s Disease restricted her motor abilities. She respected and nurtured the individuality of her adored four children (Debra, Alisa, Michael, and Rena) and embraced each of their partners wholly (Robert, Marilyn, Diane, Mark). Her grandchildren – Benjamin, Alex & Rachel, and Jorie -- brought her great joy, as did her beloved nieces and nephews and her treasured friends. Josie loved music, theater, cooking, listening to birds singing, telling jokes, reading the NYT and doing its crossword puzzle, and especially, chocolate. Anyone who knew her is the better for it. Graveside services Monday 11:00 AM at Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 Rand Rd., Arlington Heights, IL. Family and friends that cannot attend may watch the services live or any time after on Josephine’s webpage at www.NTFunerals.com . In lieu of flowers remembrances to Har Shalom Synagogue or the Michael J. Fox foundation would be appreciated. Arrangements by Ner Tamid Funerals, 847-504- 7336.