Jo Ann Hodgins

Jo Ann Hodgins, 65, beloved wife, mother, daughter, and sister was taken from us much too soon on December 12, 2024, after a sudden and brief illness.

Jo Ann was born on January 21, 1959, in San Francisco, California to Hilario P. Garcia and Jeanne (Tanaka) Garcia. The family moved to San Bruno, California shortly thereafter where Jo Ann thrived throughout her school aged years, graduating from Crestmoor High School, class of ‘78. Jo Ann continued her education at Skyline and Fullerton Junior Colleges, before enlisting into the Armed Forces of the United States in 1980. Jo Ann completed her training with the United States Air Force Academy in 1981, and worked at both Travis AFB as a US Air Force Reservist, and later at NAS Moffett Field in the Air National Guard Reserves. Sgt Jo Ann Hodgins was ‘Honorably Discharged’ in 1986.

In 1985, Jo Ann married Brian Hodgins in San Bruno, Calif., and they started their life together in San Carlos, where Jo Ann’s greatest treasures were born, Kelly Hodgins (Rohnert Park) and Brian “Willie” Hodgins (San Carlos).

As Jo Ann’s two children entered school full time, Jo Ann’s career was off and running again in the health insurance industry, including administrative positions with both Lucille Packard Children’s and Stanford Hospitals. While working full-time over the years, Jo Ann was very active in almost every aspect of her children’s school aged lives, volunteering wherever needed, as well as playing the part of a second ‘Mom’ to their many friends. Jo Ann also went back to college with night classes at Canada College, earning her Associate of Science degree in Health Studies, and then further night classes at Cal State East Bay. In 2016 Jo Ann branched off to the Biotechnology Industry, specifically in cancer research, where Jo Ann’s administrative knowledge, organizational background, supervisory experience, never ending positive attitude, and contagious smile, made Jo Ann a highly regarded executive assistant to several doctors that lead their cancer research divisions. Jo Ann thoroughly enjoyed these opportunities before retiring this past June. 

In recent years, Jo Ann lived in a hilltop home near Grass Valley. Her second floor window-filled office space overlooks the snowcapped Sierra Mountains, countless trees in the Tahoe National Forest, and best of all, a sweeping view of the wildlife that would visit the house daily. It was like an open unfenced zoo where the house was the exhibit for animals. Heavenly! 

Jo Ann was so full of life and had so much more life to live. The organizer of all family parties and celebrations. Jo Ann loved to bake her own bread, make her own jam and jellies. Growing her flowers and plants was a challenge with the wildlife present. Jo Ann always had a feline companion at her side, a beautiful animal lover!

Jo Ann is survived by her husband of 39 years, Brian and two loving children, Kelly Hodgins and ‘Willie’ Hodgins. Also survived by her mother, Jeanne, two sisters, Irene Brunow and Kim Garcia, two brothers, Greg Garcia and John Garcia, two nephews, Jeremy Hatfield and Kyle Garcia, and a niece, Lillie. Jo Ann is preceded in death by her father, Hilario (2005).

Private service arrangements are being handled by Sierra View Funeral Chapel in Carmichael, CA.

A ‘Celebration of Life’ for Jo Ann is something she would love to see for her many friends to gather. It is a work in progress since we’ve lost our Best Leader and Organizer. Please reach out to Joannhodginsmemorial@gmail.com for more details.