Josephine Mary Junor

Josephine "Jody" Mary Junor
A true daughter of California, Los Angeles-born Josephine Junor, passed away in Burbank on New Year's Day, January 1st, 2018. She was born September 10, 1939, and lived her entire life within a hundred miles of her birthplace, gathering large numbers of friends along the way.

Most people did not know her by the name Josephine. As a youngster, she saw a movie in which the main character was named Jody. She came home and announced to her family that her new name was Jody, and she continued to use that name her entire life.

She was a daughter, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother, who happily spent the recent Christmas holidays with her extended family. Always gregarious and fun, her friends could count on her to keep them entertained with news and updates on her family, whether it was marriages, births, graduations, academic achievements, professional achievements, and more.

She was a knitting-wizard, and many of her friends and family members were recipients of her creations. Although she did not think of herself as an athlete, she trained for, and completed multiple marathons.

Personally, one of her proudest moments was when, in her early 30s, while raising six children, she became a registered nurse, serving almost 40 years saving lives. In her mid-fifties, she returned to school, earning her Master's Degree. Over her career, she worked in Labor and Delivery, DOU, as a Diabetes Treatment Center Director, and more, until she retired at age 70, with her final position as the Director of Education for Encino/Tarzana Medical Center.

Jody is preceded in death by her parents. She is mourned by her older brother, six children, eleven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Her family extended to nieces, nephews, cousins, and scores of friends who will miss her.

Never one to shy from hard work and community participation, she actively pursued philanthropy and joy through donating her time and talent with Burbank University Women as their college scholarship chairman, nursing organizations, and at Incarnation Catholic Church where she served with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She helped raise money, took time to mentor those struggling with addiction, and was a friend to all.

In the end, she fought a good fight against cancer, only to be felled by influenza and pneumonia. In her final hours, she told her family it was time for her to go, and she did, on her own terms. .

A memorial mass will be held Thursday, January 11, 2018, 10:00 am, at Incarnation Catholic Church, 121 W. Glenoaks Blvd, Glendale. The invitation to attend is extended to all who mourn her passing.