I found and scanned this picture of Mom. The back is written in her mother's handwriting "Our precious Joanne...preschool"
3 comments:
Anonymous
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hi it's Dorothy Ariens here up in washington, just seeing the name Joanne Hixson brings back such a flood of memories. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Johnnie were like magical people to us and Joanne was their beautiful daughter. I have gotten to know her actually better in the last 10 years and i feel this loss so acutely i can't describe it. i loved receiving her thoughtful blogs, links and newsposts. we had alot in common and i have just loved watching her incredible family grow and prosper. i'm on vacation right now in tahoe where i received this email. needless to say i'm stunned and grieved. what a great lady and i'm sure you all are feeling the loss in the deepest parts of your souls. i thought she was brilliant and gracious and funny, cryptic, astute, thoughtful, generous and kind to name a few. i send you all my love and condolences as you deal with such a huge loss. i'm sorry espec. to and for Phil, to lose such a dynamic life partner is a daunting trial with which to reckon. i'm sorry. love to all. d.
The following obituary appeared in the Pasadena Star-News on April 9, 2011:
In Loving Memory of JOANNE EDITH SAETA Aug. 15, 1931 - April 5, 2011Jo Saeta suffered a fall in her mountain home on Sunday April 3, 2011 and never regained consciousness, dying on April 5, 2011. She led a full life surrounded by family and friends who she loved and helped in many ways. Jo was the only child of Raymond Floyd (John) Hixson and Ruth Leona Gressley Hixson of San Marino and South Pasadena. She attended South Pasadena-San Marino public schools, graduating from the high school in 1949. She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees at Stanford University in elementary education, and taught in an El Paso, Texas elementary school, the Stanford Demonstration School, Jackson Elementary School in Pasadena, and in the South Pasadena Unified School District first as a volunteer coordinator, and then as a reading specialist. She finished her professional career as a grants administrator and Curriculum Director, retiring in 1989 after 15 years of service to the district. Along the way she earned a second Masters degree in educational administration from Cal State Los Angeles. She continued to be devoted to the South Pasadena Schools, helping to found and later serving on the board and as president of the South Pasadena Education Foundation (SPEF) so that the school district would be able to supplement public funding. Outside South Pasadena she was on the board of Pacific Oaks College and on the board and chair of Sequoyah School, both in Pasadena. She was responsible for starting a consortium of school district educational foundations and through that reviewed the programs of other districts. In addition, for many years she was on the board of the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club and taught English to foreign language speakers from China and Russia. She had a passion for reading and enjoyed her Kindle Reader; she belonged to a book club for many years. She loved to travel with her husband Phil, shooting thousands of pictures on their visits to over 100 countries and all seven continents. She enjoyed organizing those pictures and souvenirs in albums. She received training in hospice work and befriended an AIDS survivor for many years. She kept in close contact with both college and high school friends, contributing to round robin letters each year since 1953. Family came first. Married to Phil for 56 years, she had four children, three of whom survive her, David (wife Leslie), Peter (wife Linda) and Sandra (husband Alan McDaniel). Stephen predeceased her 21 years ago. Watching her eight grandsons -1/3 Brennan, Andrew, Ethan, Matthew, Michael, Ryan, Jack and Sam -1/3 grow gave her much pleasure. She touched many lives and mentored many people and will be sorely missed. A celebration of her life will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to the South Pasadena Educational Foundation at P.O. Box 3342, South Pasadena, CA 91030-6342 or online at www.SPEF.com.
3 comments:
hi it's Dorothy Ariens here up in washington, just seeing the name Joanne Hixson brings back such a flood of memories. Aunt Ruth and Uncle Johnnie were like magical people to us and Joanne was their beautiful daughter. I have gotten to know her actually better in the last 10 years and i feel this loss so acutely i can't describe it. i loved receiving her thoughtful blogs, links and newsposts. we had alot in common and i have just loved watching her incredible family grow and prosper. i'm on vacation right now in tahoe where i received this email. needless to say i'm stunned and grieved. what a great lady and i'm sure you all are feeling the loss in the deepest parts of your souls. i thought she was brilliant and gracious and funny, cryptic, astute, thoughtful, generous and kind to name a few. i send you all my love and condolences as you deal with such a huge loss. i'm sorry espec. to and for Phil, to lose such a dynamic life partner is a daunting trial with which to reckon. i'm sorry. love to all. d.
The following obituary appeared in the Pasadena Star-News on April 9, 2011:
In Loving Memory of JOANNE EDITH SAETA Aug. 15, 1931 - April 5, 2011Jo Saeta suffered a fall in her mountain home on Sunday April 3, 2011 and never regained consciousness, dying on April 5, 2011. She led a full life surrounded by family and friends who she loved and helped in many ways. Jo was the only child of Raymond Floyd (John) Hixson and Ruth Leona Gressley Hixson of San Marino and South Pasadena. She attended South Pasadena-San Marino public schools, graduating from the high school in 1949. She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees at Stanford University in elementary education, and taught in an El Paso, Texas elementary school, the Stanford Demonstration School, Jackson Elementary School in Pasadena, and in the South Pasadena Unified School District first as a volunteer coordinator, and then as a reading specialist. She finished her professional career as a grants administrator and Curriculum Director, retiring in 1989 after 15 years of service to the district. Along the way she earned a second Masters degree in educational administration from Cal State Los Angeles. She continued to be devoted to the South Pasadena Schools, helping to found and later serving on the board and as president of the South Pasadena Education Foundation (SPEF) so that the school district would be able to supplement public funding. Outside South Pasadena she was on the board of Pacific Oaks College and on the board and chair of Sequoyah School, both in Pasadena. She was responsible for starting a consortium of school district educational foundations and through that reviewed the programs of other districts. In addition, for many years she was on the board of the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club and taught English to foreign language speakers from China and Russia. She had a passion for reading and enjoyed her Kindle Reader; she belonged to a book club for many years. She loved to travel with her husband Phil, shooting thousands of pictures on their visits to over 100 countries and all seven continents. She enjoyed organizing those pictures and souvenirs in albums. She received training in hospice work and befriended an AIDS survivor for many years. She kept in close contact with both college and high school friends, contributing to round robin letters each year since 1953. Family came first. Married to Phil for 56 years, she had four children, three of whom survive her, David (wife Leslie), Peter (wife Linda) and Sandra (husband Alan McDaniel). Stephen predeceased her 21 years ago. Watching her eight grandsons -1/3 Brennan, Andrew, Ethan, Matthew, Michael, Ryan, Jack and Sam -1/3 grow gave her much pleasure. She touched many lives and mentored many people and will be sorely missed. A celebration of her life will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to the South Pasadena Educational Foundation at P.O. Box 3342, South Pasadena, CA 91030-6342 or online at www.SPEF.com.
What a sweet picture!
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