Josephine "Jo" May Ronayne

Josephine May Layman was a life-long advocate for social justice. She volunteered with Catholic Workers on progressive causes involving issues of poverty and race relations as a young woman in her native Portland, Oregon.

She first came to San Diego in the 1950s to advocate for workers’ rights to unionize. She returned years later to live here, working as a paralegal and helping to care for her two young grandchildren. Jo worked in Orange and Los Angeles counties for many years as a legal secretary, before returning to school to earn paralegal certification from U.C. Irvine, where she finished at the top of her class.

Jo was married to Patrick Michael Ronayne from 1956 through 1981 and their union produced four children: Mary, Margaret (“Meg”), Matthew and Rachel.

Her life as a wife and mother took Jo from Los Angeles to Denver, New Orleans and Orange County, before settling in San Diego in 1996. In the mid-1960's while raising her own children, she volunteered as a teacher and advocate for single mothers in New Orleans poverty-stricken Desire project. Later, she supported the United Farm Workers, taking her children along to join picket lines.

A lover of theater, journalism and travel, Jo visited metropolitan cities like San Francisco, Chicago and New York City with family and friends, as well as London and Paris several times with her sister Ann. She also enjoyed southwest settings like Santa Fe, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. She attended annual retreats in Malibu for many years. She took her young children to the ballet. Jo went to a Hollywood Bowl concert each summer with Rachel and others and enjoyed theater in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego.

As a dedicated Alanon member, she made important friendships and took on leadership roles over the years. She also helped raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the Harley Davidson community.

As a child Jo courageously overcame a never-clearly-diagnosed illness that left her bedridden for years. As an adult she battled and survived 3 cancers inspiring a grateful family and friends.

She is now survived by daughter Mary Pendleton and husband, Bruce, of San Diego; daughter Meg Ronayne of Oakland; son Matthew Ronayne and partner, Lisa Gomez, of Riverside; daughter Rachel Peters and husband Ron, of Long Beach; grandson Quinn Pendleton, of Los Angeles; and granddaughter Kristin Pendleton, a senior at U.C. Santa Barbara. Jo is also survived by her sisters Ann, Jayne, Carol and Patricia, and many nieces and nephews, including sisters Jean Marie and Christie Smith and many dear friends. She was pre-deceased by her brother John “bud” Layman.

Jo was blessed, challenged, inspirational, inquisitive, loving and thankful.

A memorial mass will be held Monday, August 22, 2016 at 1 p.m. at Mission Hills Methodist Church, 4044 Lark St., San Diego, CA 92103.