Regina M. Jones' Obituary
With the melodic comfort of our mother's cherished music, Regina Mae Jones (nee Duman) passed away in the early morning hours of October 2, 2021. Surrounded in love by five of her daughters at her bedside, three of her children holding vigil together in California and two of her sons who preceded her in death, who we believe gently escorted our mother into paradise.
Regina was born September 7, 1939, in Scio, Oregon, the youngest of fourteen children. Raised on a farm, Regina learned the importance of hard work, the value of loyalty and the strength her Catholic faith would give her then, and throughout her life. After graduating from Mount Angel Academy, Regina relocated to Healdsburg, California with her family. Regina worked in "The Redwood Bookstore” and attended secretarial training. Not long after, Regina and her friend, Janet Dale, moved to the excitement of San Francisco where they learned independence and grew in to adulthood. It was during this time that Regina met and soon married Jack F. Jones. Regina and Jack moved to his home state of West Virginia where they started their family.
Although personal hardships did not define Regina, they did embolden this soft-spoken, beautiful woman. In the autumn of 1975, with determination and grit, Regina gathered a few family belongings, her ten children, boarded a plane and removed herself and her ten loves from a life unworthy of a lady and most precious children to begin a new life in California.
With the loving support of her older siblings and their spouses, Regina returned to Healdsburg where she prospered and flourished as a single mother and sole family provider. Regina honed her skills as an artist and became a self-taught master baker/cake decorator whose specialty was wedding cakes. She actually won the gold medal for the wedding cake category at the prestigious Sonoma County Harvest Fair…her first and only time submitting such an entry. Eventually, Regina opened a successful bakery and ice cream business, Sweets from the Heart, in Healdsburg. In addition, Regina not only raised and guided her own ten children, but became a mother figure to dozens of Healdsburg children, as a daycare provider. Many of these children, now adults, are still considered family and have been loved by Regina all their lives as have been several close childhood friends of her children.
The essence of Regina was that of a genteel and mindful person….a true lady. She loved the written word, most especially topics on psychology, astrology, hand writing analysis and faith-filled books. She valued learning and passed on her love of books to her children and made sure to read to them nightly. Regina enjoyed walks around Fitch Mountain, hiking, visiting the Pacific Ocean, playing solitaire, savoring her black coffee every morning while reading the newspaper and relaxing to the music of Mantovani, Percy Faith, The Mills Brothers, and many more musical artists from her vast record collection. Her wit was subtle and laser quick; her children often termed her witty remarks as “Regina-isms.” Regina was also a gifted pianist who would delight her children on occasion with her musical talents. Regina exemplified true Christianity in thought and in deed. She looked beyond to be welcoming and accepting to all.
Regina was also a skilled seamstress who not only sewed her children's clothes in the early years, but created excitement and squeals of delight from her little ones when she masterfully sewed Halloween costumes and also Christmas costumes for school plays. Holidays with our Mom were always so enchanting….all the goodies she would make, the Christmas stories she would read, the music she would play, the homemade gifts she would craft, the decorations we would all do together…pure Regina magic. Regina excelled as a cook preparing large amounts of food for her always hungry brood. Sundays were a special day where the aromas of homemade donuts, bread, or cinnamon rolls filled the house, followed by Mass attendance, a huge bacon and egg breakfast and a pot roast or chicken dinner followed by homemade pies. The one constant Regina practiced was nightly prayers with she as the moderator and her ten children surrounding her, heads bent and kneeling down in the living room. This tradition continued until the last child moved away.
In her later years, Regina enjoyed the company of her grandchildren and travelled to Maine, Ohio, and Arizona to spend time with her adult children. One of her favorite vacation trips was to Roswell, New Mexico, to tour the International UFO Museum as Regina was a fan of all things UFO and "The Twilight Zone", a hobby she shared with her son, Joel. Another highlight was an adventurous cross-country road trip with her youngest daughter, Jeri, in a black Ford with no air conditioning driving across Nevada in late June : ) This trip included visit to Graceland, a dream come true for them both. Regina dearly loved spending time with all her children and grandchildren on overnight visits, road trips, or just enjoying a meal together….never was she happier than to share time with her loved ones. A life-long wish came true when, on her seventieth birthday, her children gifted her with a cruise to Alaska with many of them in attendance on the cruise, which included her grandson, Christopher. At seventy years old, she zip lined in Alaska!
Being the mother of ten, Regina was on occasion asked, “with all those children, who is your favorite?” This mother replied that she drew the comparison to a bag of gumdrops (her favorite candy)…when she pulls the green one out of the bag, that’s her favorite, when she pulls the red one out of the bag that one is her favorite, she pulls the purple out of the bag and that one is her favorite, etc. The moral of the story is there is enough love to go round and round. God bless you Mom for loving your gumdrops.
Regina was the most loving mother of Jennifer Jones (Kerry Kikuchi), Jeannine Eck, (Guy), Julie Fuentes (Ruben), Jonathan Jones, (Aimee), Jaqueline Wilson (Markus), Jill McGhee (Dave), Jana Jones, Jerilea J. Duman (Samir Salem), the cherished grandmother of Joe, Benjamin, Amy, Erin, Emily, Christopher, Angela, Luis, Miranda, Skylar, Savannah, Olivia, Annabelle, and Melodie, the great-grandmother of Matteo and the adored sister of John Clifford Duman of Oregon. Regina was preceded in death by dearest granddaughter Kimberly and beloved sons Christopher and Joel, her parents, Aloysius and Marie, and twelve siblings, Clarence, Henry (Hank), Edward (Ed), Richard (Dick), Irene, James (Jim), Margaret, Katherine (Cassie), Dorothy (Doris), Andrew (Bob), Paul, and Maryann. Regina was a beloved aunt to numerous nieces and nephews of whom she loved deeply. She was a trusted advisor and a caring friend to many. We have all been so blessed by her presence in our lives.
The Jones family wish to express sincere gratitude to the nurses and staff at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, most notably, Stephanie, Cory, Jamie, Kristin, Sam, and Allison and the compassionate Dr. Katherine Eilenfeld, D.O. We also would like to express our appreciation to Chaplain Mike and Father Deogratias Ruwaainenyi. You each carried our mother and family through a difficult journey, with such care and kindness for which we humbly thank you.
Regina's Memorial service will be held Friday, October 15, 2021 at 12 noon, officiated by Father Michael Gurnick at the Westwood Abbey Mausoleum located in Sunset Memorial Park, 6265 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
A Memorial Service in California will be announced on a later date.
What’s your fondest memory of Regina?
What’s a lesson you learned from Regina?
Share a story where Regina's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Regina you’ll never forget.
How did Regina make you smile?
