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On May 2, 2024, Jo Ann Margaret Valaske passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, at her new home in Martinez, California. She was 93 years old. Throughout her life, Jo Ann navigated the expectations of the times with the imagination and inspiration of her soul. She was a devoted wife and mother, an advocate for those less fortunate, a lifelong learner, adventurer, volunteer leader, facilitator, feminist, a student of the arts, and an excellent dinner companion. Jo Ann could converse with biblical scholars and her granddaughters’ friends alike, and she was as at home on the water as she was in front of the TV watching — and even competing — in Jeopardy. She laughed at things that were funny, ironic, and sometimes hard because there was nothing else to do. A mischievous smile was almost always lurking, and when times required it, she steeled herself against life’s challenges with an indomitable spirit.
Jo Ann was born on July 15, 1930, to Margaret Hansen and Joseph B. Juraska in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where she lived and attended school in her early life. On June 28, 1952, she married Martin John Valaske, also from Kenosha. They moved to Milwaukee, where she worked as a bank teller to support Martin while he completed medical school at Marquette University. They welcomed their first son, Joseph, in 1954. After Martin graduated, he joined the US Navy, and the family spent the next 25 years moving across the country. With each move, Jo Ann would pack up, say goodbye to friends, then unpack and forge a new community in their new hometown. Their daughter Nancy was born in 1956 in Newport, Rhode Island, and their second son Martin Joseph arrived in 1970 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Jo Ann greatly supported Martin’s career beyond her traditional role as a homemaker and hostess. She acted as his secretary and proofreader during his tenure as the editor of the College of American Pathologists magazine. As a Navy wife who believed strongly in service, she volunteered for the Navy Relief Society wherever they were stationed. From 1976 to 1979, Jo Ann chaired Volunteers for Navy Relief in Great Lakes, Illinois, recruiting and supervising over 100 volunteers for various charitable programs. She served on the Board of Directors of Central Special Education School in Annapolis for eight years and was PTA President from 1988 to 1990. Her commitment to giving back to her communities continued with volunteer work at My Brother’s Pantry and St. Vincent De Paul until she was 89.
In 1972, Jo Ann and Martin bought a sailboat, which they berthed in Annapolis, Maryland, and she became the chief crew member on their explorations of the Chesapeake Bay. They moved to Annapolis after Martin retired from the Navy, purchasing a house on the water with a dock for their boat. In 1987, Martin passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness. After a period of grief, Jo Ann went back to school, where she embarked on a journey of intellectual and spiritual growth. She earned her BA in Religious Studies in 1995 from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, proudly graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Jo Ann was deeply involved with St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic parish in Annapolis, Maryland. Her time there started before the church was built, when mass was held at Broadneck High School. She served on numerous committees and led various groups. She created the church’s Bereavement Group after Martin died and chaired it for four years. She was also active in the Widow and Widower group, GIFT and RENEW small groups, and the RCIA program, where she facilitated and presented for over ten years. She co-directed workshops, served on the Parish Council, and was President from 1991 to 2001. Through her extensive work and dedication, Jo Ann fostered a community that was as passionate and committed as she was. Jo Ann was deeply interested in biblical history and women in the ministry. Ultimately, she found solace and camaraderie elsewhere among like-minded individuals who shared her vision for a more inclusive role for women in the church.
It was at St. Andrew’s that Jo Ann met Ray Baker, a widower who became a close companion until his passing in 2002. Ray’s daughter Cathy Weiss and her children Ray and Cate became like family to Jo Ann. She and Ray traveled together in the U.S. and internationally, including trips to Italy and Israel. For her 80th birthday, Jo Ann traveled to Europe with her daughter Nancy, visiting the Czech Republic where her father was born. She swore she saw a Czech guard who looked exactly like him! Jo Ann’s love for family was a constant. For over 20 years, she gathered her loved ones every summer at Bethany Beach, Delaware, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
Jo Ann’s passion for the arts and music took her to museums, galleries, and operas whenever possible. She even worked at McBrides Art Gallery in downtown Annapolis for a few years. After COVID, she moved to a lovely apartment added to her daughter’s house, where she spent her last years.
Jo Ann will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her children Joseph, Nancy, and Martin Valaske, and her son-in-law Robert Thomas of whom she was quite fond. Also, her grandchildren Justin Valaske, Kelsey Lubbe, Evelyn Wetmore, and their spouses Rhiannon, Jean, and Josh, her great-grandson Orion Valaske, and Joseph’s fiancé Mary Ward.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 8, 2024, from 3:00-4:00 pm with a Memorial service starting at 4:00pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A. 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Jo Ann’s many favorite causes: Doctors Without Borders USA, Bread for the World Washington D.C., or Special Olympics Southern Maryland.
