MaryJo Rumball-Petre

Mary Jo Rumball-Petre

January 10, 1936 – March 28, 2025

Mary Jo Rumball-Petre passed away peacefully Friday, March 28, 2025, at Chardonnay Assisted Living in Twin Falls, Idaho. She had been in Idaho for the most of the last two years. She was 89 years old. Her daughter, Rose Rumball-Petre, and son-in-law, Ted Stout, were by her side. In alignment with her wishes, Last Rites were given and Catholic blessings were conducted at the time of her passing.

Born on January 10, 1936, in Pattonville, Missouri, she was the second youngest child of Antonio (Tony) Barreca and Rose Venturella Barreca, two hard working Italian immigrants from Castelbuono, Sicily who ran a small store out of their home selling their homegrown produce, hand-cut meats, cheeses, and other sundries. Born as Mary, she later chose to add ‘Jo’ to her name—a playful decision made with childhood friends who all adopted ‘boy’ middle names for fun. This decision became part of her identity, and she went by “Mary Jo” for the rest of her life. Jo was also her confirmation name in tribute to her Aunt Josie.

Growing up in St Louis, Missouri, Mary Jo loved attending movies which she called “going to the show,” a cherished pastime that she maintained throughout her life. She introduced her children and grandchildren to classic films featuring Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Barbra Streisand, as well as slapstick comedies like Herbie the Love Bug and I Love Lucy that made her laugh uproariously. She adored musicals, such as The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady.

Mary Jo met the love of her life, Hugh Rumball-Petre, through their participation in the Los Angeles Young Christian Workers movement c.1960. They soon married and began to build a life together based on faith, service, and adventure. Mostly residing in Simi Valley, California, they raised three children; Rose, Bruce, and Paul and attended St. Rose of Lima Parish. Mary Jo and Hugh spent 48 years married before Hugh’s passing in 2009.

Mary Jo and Hugh’s marriage was one of deep love, respect, and compromise. Despite their differing interests and temperaments, they delighted in each other’s company enough to step outside of the confines of their own interests. For example, despite not being fond of camping or hiking, Mary Jo joined Hugh on many outdoor excursions, simply to be together. Additionally, prompted by Hugh’s interest in advocacy, peace, and the environment, they participated in activism including weekly peace vigils in downtown Los Angeles for many years, and nuclear war protests. With Hugh, Mary Jo was almost always ready for the next adventure and in turn, Hugh embraced many of Mary Jo’s wishes including purchasing an RV, traveling around the country in it, and going on a cruise.

During her life, Mary Jo explored six continents with Hugh, traveling widely, including to Africa, Australia, Europe, England, Israel, and the Galapagos Islands. She cherished her final international trips following Hugh’s passing to Jerusalem and Petra, and later Sicily, where she reconnected with Sicilian family members and their descendants that had not emigrated to the U.S.

Throughout her life, Mary Jo worked in various roles to support her family, including as a waitress at Sam’s in Newhall, California, while Hugh pursued his education. She later obtained certifications in early childhood education and library science at Moorpark College and then worked as a preschool teacher and as an Instructional Materials Center Librarian for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). She retired after many years of commuting with Hugh from Simi Valley to downtown Los Angeles.

Mary Jo’s devotion to her Catholic faith was a cornerstone of her life. She and Hugh became Oblates to St. Andrew’s Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery in Valyermo, California in 1979. She and Hugh also became Lay Mission Helpers for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at the Pohnpei Agriculture and Trade School, in the Federated States of Micronesia. Back in the States, they served as Eucharistic Ministers for St. Rose of Lima Parish and took communion to the sick. In later retirement, Mary Jo attended church daily and could always be found with a Magnificat booklet nearby.

For many years in retirement, Mary Jo and Hugh also worked as school crossing guards near their home in Simi Valley. They also served as campground hosts at Juanita Lake in the Klamath National Forest (U.S. Forest Service) and at Cougar Rock Campground in Mount Rainier National Park (Washington). There they also watched their grandchildren while Rose and Ted worked in the park.

Mary Jo will be remembered by friends and family for her feisty spirit and sense of humor. She was never afraid to speak her mind, but she would take it in stride when her children and grandchildren often teased her for her sometimes quirky pronunciations and habits.

She found joy in life’s simple pleasures—eating out, watching movies, and playing games. She was an avid reader with an impressive collection of Betty Neels and Debbie Macomber novels. Mary Jo loved games and directed a Bunco group at the Simi Valley Senior Center and was an adept Wii bowler. She played Bingo well into her final days.

Mary Jo dressed festively, often wearing brooches and holiday-themed outfits. Her home was decorated for each season, with angel flags, nativity scenes, and an assortment of collectibles, including decorative eggs, teddy bears, angels, and other religious icons.

Mary Jo delighted in cute animals, particularly pandas, bears, butterflies, whales, and dolphins as well as in spectacles of nature, such as rainbows and waterfalls. She cherished her pets, which included Russian tortoises named Shasta and Sunny.

While she generally did not like to cook, she enjoyed baking during the holidays, passing down the tradition of making Pizzelles (Italian waffle cookies) and cucidati (Italian fig cookies), also called cosi guini and she called them “full of good,” a phrase she learned from her mother.

Mary Jo is survived by her children: Rose Rumball-Petre (Ted Stout), Bruce Rumball-Petre (Mayela), and Paul Rumball-Petre Zikmanis (Atis Zikmanis), and extended family. She was a proud grandmother to Erica, Jonah, and Matthew Rumball-Petre, Benjamin Stout and Mariah Weber-Stout.

She now joins her beloved husband, Hugh, her parents, and her six siblings Joe, Jim, Sandra, Lou, Ginny, and Tony in eternal rest.

Mary Jo’s vigil/rosary will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hailey, Idaho on April 11 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. and her funeral will be at St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, California on April 28 at 11:00 a.m. with burial following in the Oblate Cemetery there. She will be laid to rest near her beloved husband, Hugh Rumball-Petre.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mary Jo’s name to St. Andrew’s Abbey, or a charity of choice supporting peace and justice, or wildlife, in the spirit of her lifelong commitment to faith and service, and adventure.

May she rest in eternal peace, reunited with the love of her life and surrounded by the angels she so adored.