Josephine Louise  was born the 5th child (and 3rd daughter) of a long established San Jose family.  She grew up on the family fruit ranch, helping in the orchards, attending Catholic school and church, and enjoying summers in the family cottage near Pleasure Point in Capitola.

Her beloved Papa gave her the nickname Phencie, which all the family used, though she went by Jo in professional situations.  She married Ed Kalenda within a couple years of graduating Notre Dame High School, and by the time she was 29 she had six kids, a career supporting public school administrations, and an increasingly volatile marriage.  She did her best to give her kids a happy home, full of music and art, but her marriage to Ed ended just before she turned 50.

Then, life sent Josephine two wonderful passions:  she fell in love with Robert King, and she joined the Retired Public Employees Association.  Jo and Bob had a beautiful marriage, full of happiness and adventures based out of their new home in Grass Valley.  Bob taught her to ski in Tahoe, introduced her to Hawaii, and kept her dancing.  They both took great delight in their 10 grandkids (now 11!)

Bob also was Jo’s biggest cheerleader as she took on leadership roles in the RPEA.  This organization gave her organizational skills a real chance to shine, and she discovered talents that sometimes surprised her.  Jo was devastated by Bob’s death, but her RPEA friends kept her busy, especially Clinton Paulson, who adored her and eventually became her final partner in life.  They settled in Santa Cruz, where she had always dreamed of living, and enjoyed hosting family wanting to spend time at the beach.

In one of life’s full circles, Jo returned to San Jose when she decided she wanted to be closer to the four children still in the area, some of whom she was able to see every day.  Her final home was just 3 miles from that of her birth.  As Josephine moves on to her next life, she will be reunited with her parents, all six of her siblings, the husbands she loved, the daughter who sadly predeceased her, and the many friends who filled her life with joy.

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