Josephine Pauline Travers

Josephine P. Travers passed away peacefully on Saturday September 24th 2011 at West Anaheim Extended Care Hospital. Jo was 93 years old. Born June 30, 1918 in Sault Saint Marie Michigan, the daughter of Gaspar and Jennie Volpe, she moved to St. Paul Minnesota where she grew up with her brother Benny and sister Gloria. It was at Fort Snelling in St. Paul that she met her then to be husband Robert at a GI’s dance. After WWII, they married and moved to Cudahy Ca. and became active members of St. Gertrude’s Church working with the St. Vincent DePaul Society and becoming the secretary of the elementary school. Jo lived in Cudahy until 1961 where they had two sons Mike and Chris before settling in Downey where she became active at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish and in the community.

While at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Jo also served as a Eucharistic Minister, was active in the Catholic Women’s Guild, League of the Sacred Heart and helped create a weekly lunch program for the homeless in Los Angeles. Jo also worked locally with St. Vincent's Seminary in Montebello, the Downey Historical Society, Downey Coordinating Council and several local orphanages using her sewing skills to create clothing for the children. Although Jo preferred to do her volunteer work in the background, she received numerous certificates of recognition from the local, state, and federal levels for this community outreach work.

Jo’s advancing Parkinson’s disease dictated her move from Downey to Sunrise Assisted Living in La Palma and later to West Anaheim Extended Care.

Jo leaves behind her son and daughter-in-law Chris and Christine and daughter-in-law Mary along with 4 beautiful grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

The family would like to express a heart-felt thank you to the many professional caregivers at Sunrise of La Palma and West Anaheim Extended Care Hospital for the compassionate care they provided Jo over the past 6½ years. Donations may be made in her memory to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509 New York, NY 10018 http://www.pdf.org/

Arrangements under the direction of Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary, Downey, CA.