Jo was born to Thomas and Helen Simek on September 1, 1922, the youngest of the four sisters; she and her family lived on Hillside Park in Johnstown. After graduating from Johnstown High School in 1941, she was trained in stenography. She then moved to Washington, D.C. to become a "Government Girl", working as a civilian for the Navy Department in the procurement office during World War II. She lived at Arlington Farms, Arlington, VA, where she made many friends and was proud to have contributed to the war effort. She remained in Washington until the war ended, then moved home to Johnstown. Jo and Steve were married in St. Anthony's Church on August 17, 1946. After their two children were both of school age, she worked for Boyce-Lazarus Glove Company as a secretary until she retired in 1984. Jo was an active member of St. Anthony's Church (now part of Holy Trinity Parish) when she lived in Johnstown. She sang in the choir, was an officer/member of the Christian Women Society and she and Steve were Eucharistic ministers for the homebound. She and Steve also delivered Meals on Wheels for many years and she often worked for the Blood Mobile when it visited St. Anthony's. She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Green Valley, AZ at the time of her death.