Josephine "Jo" Hynes

Jo (Josephine) Hynes

AKA: Mom, Grandma Jo, Josephine, Jo, Josie and Giuseppina Michelina, so many different names to so many different people, yet she was the same person to all who knew her.

Jo left all of us for a lunch date in Heaven, as she was hungry.  She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family Monday, July 18, 2016 after a very short stay in the hospital at the age of 86.

She was born in Vancouver B.C. to Italian immigrant parents learning to speak English when she attended school.  She worked at Odeon Theaters and volunteered for the Red Cross for many years.  She lived there until her marriage at the age of 24.  Her long career at Seafirst Bank/Bank of America lasted until her retirement or golden handshake as she called it. 

She leaves behind her children, Michelle DeWitt, Jody Venable (Jim), Bernadette Rice, Debbie DeLeon (Jack), Greg (Teri) and Grandchildren, Heather DeWitt Lynch (Craig), Geoff DeWitt, Jason Venable (Jessica), Trisha Venable, Tim Venable, Rhiannon Rice, and Alex Rice.

She was a loving, caring and supportive person known to many for freely giving hugs, “you aren’t getting out of here without a hug”, and she even gave them to strangers, homemade chicken soup, biscotti and lemon bread.  Even the service department at Yonkers looked forward to her lifetime oil changes for her 20 something year old car because she would bring them some lemon bread.  Loyalty to friends was important to her; she kept in contact with school friends, former neighbors and coworkers, including people she rode the bus to work with until she entered the hospital Saturday morning.  She always hand wrote letters and cards adding stickers and hearts to the envelopes.

Jo loved her family and spending time with them both as a group or individually and food was always around, the only way Italians do it!  She reached a well deserved place of really enjoying life in her beautiful condo, traveling locally and internationally.  She has been to Italy three times even going to the little town her parents were from, zip lining in Costa Rica, sailing the Panama Canal, cruising with her cousins, finding her parent’s name at Ellis Island, and countless going on Alki Tours and Mystery Day Trips, taking a short ride on Greg’s snowmobile, and Jack’s Harley.  Do not forget the movies and lunches with her girlfriends, of which there were many.  Stopping at Starbucks after a movie and taking in her own biscotti, and telling the barista they did it.  She always said, “Save your money now so you will have it later in life.”

She lived and enjoyed every day to the fullest.  “It’s a good day.”

Services will be held Sunday July 24, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at Highline Christian Church, 14859 1st Ave S. Burien WA. 98168

In lieu of flowers please make donations to St Vincent de Paul, Union Gospel Mission or the charity of your choice.

The family wishes to thank Swedish Hospital, Seattle Surgeons and staff for the amazing and wonderful care, compassion, dignity and support they gave mom and all of us.  Words cannot express our gratitude.

Ciao!