Josephine Wilson, born in Oak Park, Illinois, daughter of Antonio Lazzara and Catherine Clemente-Lazzara, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2021 at the age of 73. Jodie underwent aortic valve replacement surgery at USC Keck Medical Center and ultimately passed due to heart failure after fighting for three weeks.
Jodie grew up in San Gabriel, Ca. and graduated from San Gabriel High School in 1965. She married in 1966 and relocated to Bremerton, Washington while her husband was in the service. She then started a family and moved to Whittier where she was currently residing.
Jodie was married to Vietnam veteran Dale F. Wilson for 54 years, and they had two children; Marie C. Wilson-Cullens and Laurie D. Wilson-Jenkins. Jodie worked for Texaco Company for 6 years and retired from JCPenney Company where she was a credit and catalog manager for 35 plus years. She was such a dedicated person that she went back to work after retiring and continued to work until January 2020 when she retired for a second time.
The last few days of her life she was comforted by her loving husband, daughters and son in law. Jodie leaves her loving family with many wonderful memories.
She is survived by her husband, Dale Wilson of Whittier; her daughter Marie Cullens (husband Shaun) of La Mirada and daughter Laurie Jenkins (husband Walter) of Riverside. Jodie was blessed with six grandchildren; Alexandra Rapadas, Aiden Jenkins, Devin Jenkins, Miranda Cullens, Christina Cullens, Avery Jenkins and two step-grandchildren Kenneth Cullens and Lauren Ruiz. Jodie was also blessed with three great grandchildren, Ryder Rapadas, Hannah Ruiz and Bronson Ruiz. Also mourning the loss of their sister Jodie is Cathy Himpelmann of Redlands, brother Tom Lazzara (wife Linda) of Garden Grove, sister Fran Lazzara of Hemet and sister Rosanna Hamblin (husband Curtis) of Kanab, Utah. Jodie is also survived by her mother Catherine Clemente-Lazzara. Jodie also has many nieces and nephews and a large number of very close cousins that live in the surrounding area that she grew up with.
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> Jodie was a caring, kind hearted family woman who loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandkids. She looked forward to trips to casinos, watching her grandkids sporting events, playing board games and enjoyed scrapbooking on occasion.
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> The family will be having a service to honor this wonderful woman who we all miss on April 23, 2021 at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, Riverside at 11:00 am. A “Celebration of Life” will take place at the Jenkins residence following the service.
