Joanne and her wife Amber, very much in love.
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Very few people come into your life and make you realize at an instant, that there is no one else quite like them. That was Mama Jo.

It is with deep sorrow that at the beginning of Novemeber, we lost an example of what it means to be a beautiful human being. Passing at the age of 34 she was a happy newly wed, a determined recent college grad and on the way to beginning a new stage in her life. It breaks the heart of Joanne's parents, her wife Amber, family and friends to have to say goodbye much earlier than we thought we would ever have to.

It is now the difficult responsiblity of her parents, wife and family that they are left arranging her service in addition to the loss of three other relatives this year - taking a profund toll on them emotionally and unfortunately, financially. Her parents dealing with the shock of her passing are preparing yet another funeral this time in the memory of their daughter - and they need our help.

It's up to us as friends, extended family and as people that we can come together to make this painful process easier for her family and in honor and celebration of Joanne's life.

On behalf of all who had the privelege of knowing and loving her we are trying to raise $5000 to assist her family through this difficult process and your help would mean the world to all of us.

The services are next week so we are trying to raise as much as we possibly can before November 10th. Let's make something happen guys.

Share this link and tell us how she affected your life.
#formamajo
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This is Mama Jo if you'd like to get to know what she meant to all of us and to share a little bit of who she was with you...

A group of friends here at The Art Institute who had the privelege of attending school with and befriending Joanne eventually came together as our own little family - and she was like mom. She was there for all of us and cared for each and every one of her friends as passionately as a mother would. Always ready to scold us if we slipped up and acknowledge our accomplishments when we had them, it was an easy call for us to start referring to her as our Mama Jo.

The ad crew with their mama.
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Joanne Rivera was a relentlessly amazing individual.  Unique and her own in every fashion, she set the example for the kind of person anyone could hope to be and paved the way for her accomplishments - letting nothing stand in her way. She was intelligent, compassionate and was never short of having the best advice as well as making the time to give it. Beautiful and head-strong, she had a smile that could light up a room, all while maintaining an intensity that expressed just how serious and driven she was about making things happen - she was a woman who made life happen and inspiration to all of us.

A Jo of all trades, she was a gnarly cook. An artist at heart and a painter. A carpenter. A mechanic. She did it all. When she was in the room with one other person she made it a party. And when she was in the room with 20 people... she was still the party. She was a d.j. and a killer dancer. A comedian to those who had the chance at a conversation with her and really - an all around badass of a woman. Her presence electric and her ambition infectious. She was also the exclusive founder and recreational proffessional of freestyle ninja walking. You can't beat that.

Jo hitting the dials.
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Having recently graduated from the Art Institute with a bachelor's in Advertising Jo's ultimate goal was to become a Creative Director. She wasn't destined for big things, she made them happen herself. Having previously worked in the industry successfully for many years as a Production Manager she decided it was time to go back to school and get to where she wanted to be. With a strong focus on individuality her goal proffessionally was to speak on behalf of the minority and to speak up for those she felt hadn't been properly represented - holding a keen and aggressive devotion to the LGBT community whom she felt was under catered in our industry. Here's a gnarly example of the things she could do - one of her favorite projects produced, directed and written by the woman herself...


Determined to shake things up Joanne was more than confident that she would accomplish these tasks and develop a career never abandoning the person that she was. She worked tirelessly to make it happen juggling life in between and still managing to be the inspiration for the rest of the students at our campus. She inspired our friend Justin to make a playing card for her. She had a playing card - don't believe me? Look.


The point is she was alot of things to many people, each caring for her immensly. She left everyone she met impacted by her person, who she was and her irrestible quality of faith in herself. The possibilities of where that can take a person, and motivating everyone around her to strive for the same.

Most importantly she was a friend. An amazing daughter. Aunt. Cousin. Sister. Astonishing wife. A valuable teammate. A talented artist and an immensely creative thinker who was loved by many. If there is any proof it will be by those who carry who she was within them, by the people who loved and were loved so unselfishly by this woman. She leaves us with her wife Amber whom she loved endlessly. Her parents whom she never stopped talking about and loved dearly. And a many of family and friends who loved her just as much in return.

We all love you Joanne. And we will miss you dearly.

Family.

Mom and dad.

Family.


One of the happiest days of her life.
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To learn more about her from her very own words check out this video. (She wrote, directed and produced with her loving wife Amber and the help of friends.)