Los Gatos, California

Jo Ann Khoobyarian, 83, took her final breath on February 18, 2025, with her husband and children beside her. Born in 1941 in Sacramento, California to Anna and John Pieretti, Jo Ann was the middle child between her brother John and younger sister Nancy. Jo Ann graduated from Bishop Armstrong High School and obtained a Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco College for Women, Lone Mountain. She attended graduate school at Michigan State University studying botany before returning to Sacramento where she met and fell in love with Milton Khoobyarian. Celebrating more than 57 years of marriage, Jo Ann and Milt were married in 1967 and eventually settled in the Almaden Valley neighborhood of San Jose, California. In Almaden they raised their three children, Kristin, Stephen (Nikki), and Erik.

From a young age, through college, and throughout her life, Jo Ann was committed to helping others. When her children were young, Jo Ann was an active volunteer in their schools, and she was one of the earliest members and a past president of the Almaden Valley Women’s Club and one of the first chairs of the organization’s annual Art &Wine Festival. Jo Ann would go on to have a significant leadership role in the Almaden Valley Youth Counseling Service Auxiliary and its various fundraisers.

Jo Ann also had avibrant 25-year career with the San José Public Library. The capstone of her work was a leadership role in the historic merger with the San Jose State University Library creating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and the San Jose State University library. After retiring from the City of San José, Jo Ann invested herself in the important work of the Assistance League of San Jose (for which she was also a past president), capping off more than 50 years of serving her community with time, energy, empathy, and love.

Upon moving to the Terraces of Los Gatos more than 14 years ago, Jo Ann quickly became active with the library, welcome, and dining committees. Creating community and contributing to the well-being of her neighbors was extremely important to Jo Ann. At the Terraces, she knew the adjustment to senior living could be hard, and she wanted to be sure that all new residents felt welcomed and cared for.

Jo Ann was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos for more than 55 years and served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and a member of numerous committees. She loved helping in the office, especially stuffing Easter eggs for the annual hunt.

Whether it was her fellow volunteers, her team at the San Jose Public Library, or the staff and residents at the Terraces, Jo Ann was a fierce advocate for others and for her ideals.

Jo Ann was anavid reader and an excellent cook. She also enjoyed various pastimes such as swimming, playing bridge (for which she was most competitive!), crafts, and playing word games.

Jo Ann loved her family. Throughout their marriage Jo Ann and Milt created beautiful memories, enjoying travel, celebrations with family and friends, and a shared love of history. Milt was always alongside her, especially through her health challenges. Jo Ann supported Kristin, Stephen, and Erik in their activities from childhood into adulthood. She was an aunt to nieces Lynda and Karen, a great-aunt, a godmother, and an “honorary” grandmother.

Jo Ann welcomed new people into the family, especially her daughter-in-law Nikki, and her generosity also extended to anyone she thought might need a little extra reminder that they were loved.

Jo Ann’s life will be honored on March 28, 2025, at 11 am at the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, 16575 Shannon Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032, with a reception thereafter.

Contributions in memory of Jo Ann Khoobyarian may bemade to the Assistance League of San Jose (PO Box 20174, San Jose, CA 95160 or online at https://www.assistanceleague.org/san-jose/donate/).