Josephine Hernandez

Josephine Picazo Hernández, 86, was a fighter to the end. Even after a stroke three years ago diminished her memory, she retained her humor and survived a bout of Covid, a fractured hip and another stroke. Jo, as she was known, died Saturday, March 12, 2022.

Jo was delivered during a homebirth in Goodyear, AZ in 1935, the youngest child of Beatrice M. and Margarito D. Picazo, both who were born in Mexico. At age 2 years, she and her older sister Sally moved with their parents to San Jose, California. Jo was a tomboy who resisted baths, rules and restrictions. She mastered shooting marbles and – in front of neighborhood children - relished eating Hersey bars rationed during World War II but given to her by older half-brothers in service. After one year at Santa Clara High School, Sally persuaded the family to have Jo join her at Notre Dame High School, San Jose. Jo thrived at ND, particularly in the biology courses, graduating in 1953. She went onto O’Connor Hospital School of Nursing, San Jose, graduating in 1956 as a Registered Nurse.

During her one year at Santa Clara High School she met John L. Hernández, then a senior, who asked her out. She declined but they met again 4 years later, at an O’Connor charity event. The two were married in 1956. Three daughters were born in quick succession. Throughout, Jo worked night shifts at San Jose City Hospital (now Santa Clara Valley Medical Center) while John worked days, teaching Spanish at Santa Clara High School. She returned to college, attending San Jose City College (AA’67), San Jose State College (BA’69) and Santa Clara University (MA’72).

Jo worked for 4 years as a guidance counselor at San Jose High School before embarking on a 20-year career at West Valley-Mission Community College District. She was among those who initiated the Re-Entry program for women returning to college after a long lapse. She was instrumental in developing the Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOPS) that supports low-income and educationally disadvantaged students. She was the assistant EOPS director at the time of her retirement in 1996.

Jo was an avid fisher person; her favorite spot to drop a line was at Lassen Volcanic National Park. She took pride in teaching her 2 granddaughters how to bait and gut trout. She was also a keen vegetable gardener, overseeing a large plot adjacent to the Saratoga home where the family lived for 31 years. She was living at the Saratoga Retirement Community at the time of her death.

Jo was a firm believer in education and giving back to the community. At her retirement, she said: “I never dreamed on the day I graduated from San Jose City College that one day I would be a community college counselor. But then I never dreamed even when I reached high school that I would go beyond high school graduation. I did and I am here and still wonder how all this came to be.”

Jo is survived by her husband, John L. Hernández; daughters Peggy, Pamela and Patricia; three sons-in-law – Geoffrey Ide, John, and Terry Holzemer; granddaughters Vanessa H. Ide and Veronica; her sister Sally Pfeiffer; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her much-loved half siblings Nellie Erickson, Robert Lira and Mike Lira.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Josephine P. Hernández towards the “Thirty-One Women” tuition assistance campaign at Notre Dame San Jose, 596 S. 2nd St., San Jose, CA 95112.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Hernandez family.