Jo Ann Pinto

Jo Ann Khaled Pinto was born on the 24th of August 1932, to Sadie and Abbes Jacob Khaled at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Houston. God called her to her heavenly home on Sunday, the 31st of July 2022 at the age of 89.

Jo Ann lived a life of devoted faith, always moving forward, looking for new and interesting ways to interact with the world around her.

She graduated from Blessed Sacrament and Incarnate Word Academy before completing college at the University of Houston. This was the stepping-stone to a marketing career in the world of 1950’s home economics.

She worked at Houston Natural Gas doing local demonstrations of natural gas products. Soon after, she pursued a job with Proctor & Gamble. As their representative during the post-war boom, she was a proud member of a team that introduced many of the standard products used in households today. Her responsibilities included traveling to a five state territory to demonstrate their products and file field notes. In Houston she was given a company car and she did all of this before 1959 when it was still rather uncommon for women to hold jobs outside of the home.

She met James Thomas Pinto through the St. Anne’s Club and they were married at St. Anne’s Catholic Church on the 30th of December 1961. By November of 1962, Jo Ann and Jim welcomed their first child, Cara. Their next child, Nena arrived in March of 1965.

In 1970, Jo Ann and the girls joined Jim as he was able to pursue a new opportunity getting a second law degree from George Washington University. The young family moved to Virginia before returning to Houston.

Ultimately, Jo Ann looked for activities that were both social and service oriented. In the early 1980s, she began a longstanding volunteer position focused on fundraising for The Houston Hospice where she enjoyed decades of fellowship, friendship and service.

Jo Ann always wanted the best for her children, and she was an inspirational role model for a life devoted to God. This was her calling on earth and her greatest legacy.

Jo Ann is predeceased by her husband, James T. Pinto, and leaves behind her two daughters, Cara Michele Pinto, along with her partner, Thomas L. Miller, and Nena Pinto Brackett and her husband Charles M. Brackett.

Jo Ann’s later years were extended and given dignity and comfort by her amazing and devoted caregiving team. We will remain ever grateful for their loving attendance to her daily needs. Portia Davis, Susan Mbagwu, Roselyn Gaye, Amy Walker, and Dolly Jones were angels in God’s service to her and our deepest appreciation remains with them.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 7th of August, in the Jasek Chapel and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at half-past six o’clock.

The Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at half-past twelve o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 8th of August, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby St. Theresa Living Room.

The family will gather for a private Rite of Committal at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, kindly consider a contribution in memory of Jo Ann to Incarnate Word Academy, 609 Crawford Street, Houston, TX 77002 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1050 N Post Oak Road, Suite 240, Houston, TX 77055.