Murphys, CA…Josephine Moller, November 25, 1923 to June 21, 2018. A very special person just passed away: “Mom” to us kids; “Auntie Jo” to four generations of nieces and nephews; “Gramzie” to her grand and great-grandchildren. Born in a farmhouse in Hughson, California, to Italian immigrants Theresa and Narcisco Simi, Josephine grew up in Modesto. As a youngster and teenager, she had a passion for life — as she would throughout her 94 years. Her early days saw her as a high school band member, a drum majorette, Tuolumne County Winter Sports Carnival Queen, queen of a Modesto harvest festival, and a car hop at The Cream Cup, a popular drive-in.

In the early 1940’s, she left Modesto for “The City” and worked for the Quartermaster Corps to help with World War II efforts. Eventually, she was employed in the medical office at United Airlines where she met a young Army Air Force officer applying for a job as a pilot. They dated for two weeks before he proposed. Their marriage lasted 68 years, until his passing.

Their life together included camping trips in which the family and perhaps a nephew or two were piled into a car, along with tent, gear, food, and amazingly good humor. Thanks to her husband’s work as a pilot, the family flew around the country, from Hawaii to ski resorts in Rockies. When he retired to the Monterey Peninsula, the two of them golfed in Pebble Beach. They frequently entertained and socialized with a variety of dear friends

She enjoyed cooking and was always eager to try new dishes from a variety of traditions, accumulating clipped recipes that filled a dozen binders alongside even more cookbooks. Her curiosity and eagerness to learn filled our home with encyclopedias and books, books, books. But the books were quickly outnumbered by framed photos, thanks to her love of family and friends.

She was a beauty even into her nineties, as was apparent to everyone except herself. Conceit was utterly alien to her.

She was a soul full of life, humor and humanity. She launched herself into each day and its challenges with a smile on her face.

Mostly, she loved people and made them feel loved. Some were heard to remark that she never said a bad word about anyone. So kind, patient, and forgiving was she that several have said that they aspire to be more like her. She never gave less than her whole heart, never said anything to make someone feel bad, and never stopped listening to others (no matter how long they talked).

She moved to Murphys from Carmel Valley a little over two years ago, her first relocation without her beloved husband Ralph. Yet, she more than accepted her new home. She was determined to love it, and she did. She remarked that everyone was so friendly. But how could they ignore that generous smile of hers? A great joy for her was to sit on her front porch on the corner of her residential street and be waved to by passersby.

Jo, as she was known, was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Ralph, and her three siblings, Ermedi, Albert, and Frances. She is survived by her three children, Francine (Tulie) Barnum, Erik (Gina) Moller, and Kenneth Moller, and many beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She and her family were blessed to have a heartwarming reunion with nieces, nephews, and their families just prior to her peaceful passing. No other service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you share your smile or an act of kindness with someone today.