SÁENZ, Josephine Alicia^[1]

1908 - 2003  (95 years)   Has no ancestors and no descendants in this family tree.

• Name	SÁENZ, Josephine Alicia
  Birth	13 May 1908	San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Burial	Jun 2003	Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Orange, California, USA   [1, 2]
  Death	24 Jun 2003	North Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA   [1]
  	Josephine Sáenz Wayne Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles on June 6, 2003. Josephine Alicia Sáenz was born in San Antonio, Texas and moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was 3 years old. She was a dedicated volunteer her entire life. Over the years her energy and spirit helped to found and guide several Catholic service organizations designed to promote charitable, educational and spiritual missions. These included the Social Service Auxiliary, Sacred Heart Retreat movement, St. Anne's Maternity Home, Holy Family Adoption Agency, Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, and the Immaculate Heart Auxiliary. These efforts were recognized in 1996, when she was given the archdiocese's highest honor, the Cardinal's Award. Josephine's first love was her large family. She and her first husband, John Wayne, had two sons, Michael and Patrick, and two daughters, Mary Antonia (La Cava) and Melinda (Munoz). Josephine was also cherished by her 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She also found great happiness in 1996 when she married Cyril Nigg, a well known Los Angeles businessman, who shared her love of service to the community. A Rosary will be held on Thursday, June 26th at 7:00 PM at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 505 North Bedord Drive, Beverly Hills. The Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, June 27th at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers donatations may be made to the John Wayne Center Institute 2200 Santa Monica Blvd. January 31,1996 Byline: Daniel Taub and Mary Beth Alexander Daily News Staff Writers JOSEPHINE WAYNE TO RECEIVE ARCHDIOCESE'S HIGHEST HONOR.(News) JOSEPHINE WAYNE TO RECEIVE ARCHDIOCESE'S HIGHEST HONOR Josephine Saenz Wayne may be known in film lore as legendary film actor John Wayne's first wife, but to the Los Angeles Roman Catholic community, she is a legendary figure herself. Wayne of Toluca Lake helped found six Los Angeles Catholic organizations devoted to helping unwed mothers, promoting education, supporting foreign missionary work and helping with adoptions. She also has served almost 20 other organizations as everything from volunteer to director. Biography Josephine Alicia "Josie" Saenz was born in 1908 to the Consul General of Panama in the United States, Dr. José Saenz, a wealthy businessman who lived in Los Angeles, California. Aged 15 or 16 when she met John Wayne, an actor in college still named Marion Morrison, while at a beach party in Balboa, California. Their relationship met with considerable resistance from her family because he was a Presbyterian. After courting for seven years, however, Wayne's financial status improved considerably due to his success at the box office, and he was able to convince her family to allow the marriage. The couple married on June 24, 1933, in a garden ceremony at actress Loretta Young's home. Their union produced four children: Michael Wayne (film producer, November 23, 1934 - April 2, 2003), Mary Antonia "Toni" Wayne LaCava (February 25, 1936 - December 6, 2000), Patrick Wayne (born July 15, 1939) and Melinda Wayne Munoz (born December 3, 1940). [3]
  Age	95 years
  Person ID	P2211	Dutton Ancestry
  Last Modified	27 Mar 2023

  
  

  Family	MORRISON, Marion Robert           b. 26 May 1907, Winterset, Madison County, Iowa, USA           d. 11 Jun 1979, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA (Age 72 years)  [1]
  Marriage	24 Jun 1933	Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA   [1]
  Age at Marriage	She : 25 years and 1 month old - He : 26 years and 1 month old.
  Family ID	F5530	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Mar 2023

  
  

• Event Map	Click to display
  		Birth - 13 May 1908 - San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA Marriage - 24 Jun 1933 - Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA Burial - Jun 2003 - Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Orange, California, USA Death - 24 Jun 2003 - North Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA  = Link to Google Earth
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• Sources

  [S141] Familysearch.org. [S50] Findagrave.com. Created by: Rene Saenz-Tanner Added: 17 Nov 2008 Find a Grave Memorial ID# 31486707 [S50] Findagrave.com.