Frances JoAnn Miller

Frances Jo Ann Miller, known as “Jo Ann” by friends, was born in North Dakota, and baptized in 1930. She was adopted by Nellie and Mathias Kline less than a month after birth, and was raised in Barnesville, Minnesota. Mathias died when Jo Ann was young. Without her husband, Nellie had no means of support, and moved to California with a family friend, and settled in Southern California, attended Hollywood High School, and at sixteen she met the love of her life, Harold. They married the next year, in 1947. The couple had 3 children Ronald, Stephen (deceased), Gregory, and a granddaughter, Cherie. Butterflies, and the color pink represented symbols of joy and comfort for her.

Jo Ann and Harold moved to Fremont, California in 1958. They participated together in PTA functions, and Little League baseball, and helped build and support Fremont Baseball Incorporated. She worked for many years in Silicon Valley as a planner in the electronics industry for Signetics/Philips Corp., producing semiconductor integrated circuits, and retired in 1992.

In later life, Jo Ann volunteered her time at St. Leonard, and then at St. Joseph Catholic Church, was a Lector for 32 yrs, helped in the St. Joseph’s Parish office for 22 yrs, and taught Scripture Classes for 20 yrs. She was in Leadership in St. Vincent De Paul, Liturgical Environment, Eucharistic Ministry, Senior Peer Counseling, Friendly Visitors, and was a member of the Holy Family Guild, Women of St. Joseph, and Catholic Daughters. Jo Ann served for Meals on Wheels for 20 years, as well as volunteered for the food pantry at St. Joseph’s, initially created by Sister John Marie, who was a good friend. She was grateful for her parish community, friends, and spiritual advisors, among them, Fr. Tom Bonacci. On Mother’s Day, her family was lucky to visit with Jo Ann, sing songs, and spend quiet time together. She left us soon after, at 96, with peace and love in our hearts.