Josephine (“Jo”) O’Malley

Josephine (Jo) O’Malley, born May 18, 1953, in Chicago, IL, to Helene and Charles O’Malley, died on April 3, 2021, surrounded by her loving family after a long and courageous journey with brain cancer.

Jo grew up in Kenilworth, IL and moved with her family to Louisville, KY in May, 1968 before attending St. Louis University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Thereafter she embarked on a career that was replete with service and passion. She began as a public health nurse in a community Health Center in St. Louis. In 1981 Jo relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she worked for Planned Parenthood, the San Francisco Rape Crisis Center, and the last 15 years of her career as a wound care specialist for Hospice before she was forced to retire as a result of her brain cancer diagnosis 6 1/2 years ago.

She married the love of her life, Michael Brucker, in February,1983 and in 1988 a son, Jacob Michael O’Malley Brucker, was born followed in 1992 by a second son, Samuel Wolf O’Malley Brucker. Her sons were the delight of her life. She loved the outdoors and a variety of outdoor activities. She was an accomplished athlete excelling at skiing, sailing, and road biking - completing the AIDS ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles three times in support of AIDS Research and Prevention.

For her entire life she adored family summer vacations at the family cottage on Elkhart Lake, WI., missing only two summers for her entire life. She loved hosting friends and family, especially on Thanksgiving - her favorite holiday.

She was pre-deceased by her parents and her sister, Charlotte M. O’Malley.

She is survived by her husband, Michael, her two sons, Jake and Sam, her sisters, Helen O’Malley Butler (Cold Spring, NY), Ann O’Malley Shake (Louisville, KY), Margaret O’Malley (Reno, NV), her brothers, James J. O’Malley (Mt. Eden, KY), John E. O’Malley (Louisville, KY), her stepdaughters, Randi DiSalvo (Santa Cruz, CA), Stacy Bogan (Concord, CA), Lisa Brucker (Woodland Hills, CA) and many treasured nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of Jo’s magnificent life will take place when circumstances allow an in-person gathering.

If you are inclined to make a donation in her name, Planned Parenthood would be her preference.