Jody Ann Osnaya

Birth: January 3, 1948 | Died: August 27, 2021

Jody was born on January 3, 1948 in Rochester, New York to Ann Lucy Russolesi and Venerando Anthony Gangemi. She is survived by her sister Mary, her husband of 48 years, Santiago, her two children Richard and Ann-Marie, and her three grandchildren Anthony, Angelique, and Laurel.

Jody was a selfless, loving person who always took care of others before herself. She chose to be a stay home mom for her kids. After 13 years of domestic labor, she decided it was time to get back to work. She got her Bachelor of Arts degree and Teaching Credential in Education and Liberal Studies from Cal State Long Beach in 1995. For the next ten years, she shaped third grade minds in the classroom, which she loved. She enjoyed seeing the kids grow and being an early positive influence in their lives. She was liked by all and was missed when she was forced to retire due to health issues.

After retirement, Jody and Santiago spent some time travelling around to various places, such as Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii. She particularly enjoyed their church trip to Europe, which included Spain, France, Portugal and Italy, where they visited the Vatican and saw the Pope. One of the things she appreciated most about the trip was that they were accompanied by their compadres, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Once the grandchildren were born, she devoted herself to them, same as she had her own children. She spent many days baby sitting when they were younger, cherished attending their school and sports functions, and always looked forward to those weekend family dinners as they got older.

Unfortunately, Jody’s last few years were spent dealing with various physical ailments. Although these slowed her down, she always had a smile and a good attitude for her family. She continued to put others first, always making everyone's birthday special, and being present for the grandkids' activities and milestones. She cared for her dogs, Sparkles and Chiweena, with as much love and devotion as she did her human loved ones. Anyone she met, whether in a grocery store or a pharmacy, smiled after encountering Jody, especially children, whom she always loved talking to.

Jody was called home to heaven at age 73 on Friday, August 27, 2021 after a two week, hard fought battle with COVID 19. The unexpected onset of COVID 19 was more than her body could bear. She was surrounded by her family in Anaheim Regional Medical Center. Although she will be sorely missed, we know she is in a happier place, reunited with family members who passed before her and God, smiling down on us all.