Obituary

BARBARA ANN JONES

Barbara Ann Trudeau Jones entered the embrace of her Lord on April 2, 2019. Barbara was born in Los Angeles on February 5, 1931 to Mary Cecilia and Charles Alliance Trudeau. She lived all her life in Los Angeles and Orange counties. She graduated from Catholic Girls High School (known now as Bishop Conaty High School) as class valedictorian. She earned her BA in English with honors, and a teaching credential from Immaculate Heart College, where she was president of her sorority.

In her final weeks of college, she met Arthur V. Jones, Jr., a Loyola University graduate and pharmacy student at USC. Art’s active duty with the U.S. Navy soon began, and they married in 1953 before his tour of duty in the Korean theater of operations. Barbara taught early elementary grades in the Santa Ana School District and later in the Wiseburn School District in the South Bay. When Art transferred back to the Naval Reserves and returned to pharmacy school, they began their family, adding four children between 1957 and 1963.

The family moved to the Portuguese Bend area of what is now Rancho Palos Verdes, and Barbara started the most important “career” of her life, that of Mom. She thoroughly enjoyed every part of being a Mom, and participated enthusiastically in enriching her children’s lives. She was a Scout leader who loved taking her girls on camping trips, a religion teacher at St. John Fisher parish in Palos Verdes, soccer coach, and baseball scorekeeper for Art’s Little League teams. She happily did without family vacations, instead spending all summer at Portuguese Bend Club. Every summer from 1966 to 1986 would find her and the kids at the beach all day, and many evenings she’d make dinner on the sand as well, ending the evening with guitar sing-a-longs around the bonfires. She won several Paddle Tennis tournaments at PBC, and took on all challengers at Scrabble and Mah Jongg.

Barbara was an adventurer. She taught her family to value experiences, and in 1970, she packed all four children, ages 6 to 12, plus her 67-year-old mother into her station wagon and embarked on a 5-week trip across the country, visiting historic and patriotic sites as well as friends and relatives. For her entire family, “The Trip” became a lasting memory and was discussed for years around holiday dinners.

Barbara was successfully able to balance her family priorities as she went back into the work force. Barbara spent a decade in the family vitamin wholesale business, Erlex. She later applied her considerable skills to the furniture industry, specializing in inventory and purchasing and retiring after 12 years as the Fabric Manager for Lazar Industries. She and Art moved to Irvine, where she lived the rest of her life. She was active in her Irvine Catholic parish, St. John Neumann, loved birdwatching and developed a love for paper crafts. During this time her greatest joys were participating in the activities and milestone events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Art. She is survived by four loving children and their spouses: Cathy and Zane Smith, Charles and Patricia Jones, Carolyn Sermeno and Dr. Chris and Kim Jones. She was an active and loving grandmother to seven: Dorsie Beth Smith Brooks and her husband Tim, Meaghan Sermeno Wise and her husband Ben, Evan Sermeno, Tina Jones, Matt Jones, Sam Jones and Nick Jones. She was beloved “GiGi” to her two great-grandchildren, Liam Brooks and Evie Brooks. Barbara is also survived by her brother, Charles A. Trudeau.

Barbara’s faith was her guide and she walked every day of her life on her path to the Lord. She led many to God by her example and prayers. She has earned her “crown in heaven” and we know she is wearing it this day.

Funeral Mass

Date & Time: April 15, 2019 (9:30 AM)
Venue: St. John Neumann Catholic Church
Location: 5101 Alton Parkway Irvine, CA 92604 - (Get Directions)

Reception

Date & Time: April 15, 2019 (10:30 AM)
Venue: St. John Neumann Catholic Church
Location: 5101 Alton Parkway Irvine, CA 92604 - (Get Directions)

Graveside Service

Date & Time: April 15, 2019 (2:01 PM)
Venue: Riverside National Cemetery
Location: 22495 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside, CA 92518 - (Get Directions)
Phone Number: (951) 653-8417

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7 responses to Barbara Ann Jones

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Emily E says:

April 6, 2019

Dear family, I extend my condolences to you. It is very difficult to lose a love one . May your hearts be comforted by God’s Loving Words of Comfort at Isaiah 41:10 and Psalms 34:18 . It is my hope that as you read those words , you will receive a healing to your grieving hearts. Revelation 21:4.

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Cathy (Jones) Smith says:

April 11, 2019

To all who visit:
We welcome you here to honor and express love for our Mom, Barbara. Thank you for all the expressions of love, grief and certain hope in her savior, that she is glorified in heaven.
Barbara Ann Trudeau Jones was a remarkable women who touched many hearts and souls in her 88 years. Please share with all of us your remembrances and stories of her impact. Many of her friends and loved ones have gone on ahead of her, but many of us left have fond memories of her intelligence, her devout belief and her unfailing love for us, her family, and for many of you. She was vibrant and full of fun as a teen, a college student and a young teacher. She became the best Mom ever for the four of us, and filled our days with a sense of possibilities and adventure. She taught us by her example the love of the beach, and the love of God that defined her life.
Thank you for being a part of her life.
Love to all,
Cathy

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Laurie Freeman says:

April 12, 2019

What a beautiful and loving tribute. And what a remarkable woman and mother. I have wonderful memories of the time spent at your house on my summer visits to California, especially the times at the beach. Aunt Robbie was always so warm and loving to me. I remember “the trip” and shared with Cathy that even as a preteen I was so impressed with your mother’s adventurous spirit. I also remember a trip your mom and dad made to Houston in their later years to see my parents. They came out to our house a few times. Your dad enjoyed going to my son’s basketball game. I took your sweet mom out to Brazos Bend State Park to birdwatch. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I know you will always have warm memories of your wonderful mother. Love, your cousin Laurie

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1. Cathy Smith says:
  
  April 12, 2019
  
  Thank you so much, Laurie. There was a closeness between our Dads that time and distance did not erase. Both my parents loved their trip to Texas in the late 90’s, but I hadn’t known that Dad got to see your son’s basketball game. I can imagine that was a highlight for him. And I heard many times about the great birding in Texas! Your taking her to Brazos Bend was really appreciated.
  Our love to your family and Uncle Don!
  Cathy
  
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Laurie Freeman says:

April 12, 2019

What a beautiful and loving tribute. And what a remarkable woman and mother. I have such fond memories of my visits to your house on my summer trips to California, especially the times spent at the beach! Aunt Robbie was always so wonderful and loving to me. I also remember “the trip” and shared with Cathy how that even as a preteen I was so impressed with your mother’s adventurous spirit. Your mom and dad made a trip to Houston in their later years to visit my parents. They came out to our home and I took your mom birdwatching at Brazos Bend State Park. It was a lot of fun and I was happy to do something for her after all she had done for me as a child. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I know you will always have warm memories of your loving mother. Love your cousin, Laurie

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Don Jones says:

April 17, 2019

I first met Barbara in 1953 when she and my brother Art were engaged. Vrai and I attended their wedding and we were married the following year. We lived in Texas but when we vacationed in California we loved to visit with them at their Portuguese Bend home and the lovely beach nearby. Barbara was always kind and took good care of my mother, her own mother, and my brother in his failing years. Barbara Jones was a strong woman, a devout Catholic, and most of all, a loyal loving child, wife, mother, and grandmother. I was blessed to have her for a sister-in-law for 65 years. May she Rest In Peace.

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