Jeanne Irene Valvo

Jeanne was a true light. Some might even say she was an angel walking on this earth.

She had a remarkable ability to see the positive in everything. She loved people and was genuinely interested in their stories. She had a special gift for making each person she met feel as though they were the most important person in the room. She was both interested and interesting, and people were naturally drawn to her warmth, curiosity, and spirit.

She loved children and they were naturally drawn to her as it was always clear they could sense that she was pure of heart.

Jeanne loved watching the sunrise each morning and began every day with the belief that it was a new beginning. She delighted in watching the hummingbirds feed from the trees outside her home and had a deep love for animals. Her soul was incredibly gentle and kind.

She was fun, funny, and could command a room simply by walking into it. She possessed tremendous integrity, an extraordinary work ethic, and strength all her own. Above all, Jeanne was deeply devoted to her family and friends. She loved them fiercely and wholeheartedly.

Born Eugenia Irene Rusetos on June 7, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Jeanne moved with her family to California in 1949.

By the mid-1950s, Jeanne was winning beauty pageants, a natural beauty whose presence and personality were every bit as striking as her appearance. In the 1960s, she wrote a social column under the name “January Jones” for The Signal newspaper in Santa Clarita.

In the early 1970s, Jeanne started her own public relations firm, representing many well-known performers and individuals. Later that decade, she embarked on what would become an extraordinary career in real estate.

Over the decades, Jeanne earned numerous awards and became a top producer in her field. She was considered one of the best in the business, a distinction attributable not only to her talent and determination, but also to the exceptional standards, values, and integrity she brought to everything she did. She was immensely proud of her 50 years in the real estate industry and grateful to have found a career that never truly felt like work. It brought together two things she genuinely loved: architecture and people.

Jeanne also believed deeply in giving her time and energy to others. She served on the advisory board of Habitat for Humanity and joined the Board of Special Olympics in 1972. In 1990, she took part in one of the proudest and most meaningful accomplishments of her life: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro alongside 12 Special Olympians. Their remarkable journey later became the documentary Let Me Be Brave.

Jeanne also served on the Board of Directors of the International Student Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jeanne is survived by her two children, Lisa Balelo and Joey Valvo; their spouses, Nez and Cheryl; her nephews, nieces, cousins, many loving friends; and her beloved cat, Poppi.

A courageous warrior with the strength of a lion and a heart of gold, Jeanne moved through life with curiosity, compassion, and an open hand always reaching toward anyone who needed one to hold.

That was Jeanne.

Extraordinary. Strong. Gentle. Loving. Unforgettable.

She will be deeply missed, never forgotten and will live on in our hearts forever.