Joan R. Rufo

Joan Rufo (Jane to friends and family), had been a proud resident of The Fairfax for 23 years. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1918, Jane celebrated her 106th birthday in June. Growing up, Jane and her five siblings worked in the family’s popular Italian restaurant, which her parents owned and operated for more than 40 years. After high school, Jane earned a degree in medical laboratory technology, and worked for several years at the Cleveland Clinic and St. Joseph’s Hospital near Cleveland. She also continued to help out at the restaurant, which is where she met her husband, Sandy.

They were married in 1942, and after Sandy’s Army service in World War ll, he and Jane managed a movie theater, and had their daughter, Amy. With the onset of the Korean War, Sandy was inspired to re-enlist, and after graduating from the Army’s Officer Candidate School, began a career in the Army Quartermaster Corps. The family was stationed in Germany, the first of many tours of duty, including Japan, and around the United States. Jane worked as a lab technician in several Army hospitals before Amy was born, and later became a hospital volunteer, and a championship Bridge and Golf player.

After Sandy retired, they moved to Annandale, Virginia, where they lived for 34 years. Before Sandy’s passing in 2000, they traveled the world, visiting almost every country in Europe, the Middle East and Asia (sometimes twice). In between their trips as tourists, they were unofficial and enthusiastic tour guides of Washington, D. C. to a myriad of visiting family and friends. Jane continued her volunteer work (including at Walter Reed Army Medical Center), started twice-weekly exercise classes at age 68 (until she was 83), maintained a beautiful flower garden, and created lovely needlepoint and knitted items for family and friends.

After Jane moved to The Fairfax’s Adams Building in 2001, she played Bridge, enjoyed The Fairfax’s parties, and worked in the Gift Shop, Red Tag Sale, and other volunteer efforts. She moved to the Assisted Living unit in 2019, and the Skilled Nursing unit in 2023. Jane loved video chatting, and in-person visits with Amy; her two granddaughters, Shannon and Amanda; her two great grandsons, Luke and Milo; and her many friends and extended family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Good Shepherd Catholic Church of Alexandria, followed by burial next to Sandy at Arlington National Cemetery, on a date yet to be announced. A reception at The Fairfax will be held following the burial.

We wish to thank all the amazing staff at The Fairfax and Goodwin Hospice, as well as Mom’s personal caregivers (her “Lovely Ladies”). Everyone’s loving, compassionate and expert care was a wonderful blessing to Mom and to us.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, P. O. Box 1900, Merrifield, VA 22116-1900, or online at ccda.net. Donations may also be mailed to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, 20090-6011, or given by phone at (800) 272-3900, or online at alz.org.