Ethel Joanne "MA AMRIT SAVITO" Parks

MA AMRIT SAVITO aka ETHEL JOANNE PARKS
June 14,1932 - October 19, 2014
Ethel Joanne Parks (Jo) passed away on November 19, 2014 surrounded by her family, and began her journey to her glorious spiritual place. Savito was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt and was living proof of the reality of living a clean and sober life for 43 years. Her family was proud of her and the strength she showed them every day.
She was born June 14, 1932 at the Caldwell Sanitarium Hospital to Floyd T. and Lela L. Parks. Along with big sister, Opal, the family moved to Jordan Valley, Oregon, where life was simple. In the summer of 1948, the family moved to Boise and she finished her schooling at St. Teresa's Catholic Academy and got her first job as a telephone operator for Pacific Bell.
In 1952, she met and married Giovanni (John) DeRisio. John was in the Air Force and was immediately sent to Africa. When he returned, they moved to Los Angeles where 5 little boys arrived in 6-1/2 years; John Michael in Aug. '55, Daniel Nov. '56, Anthony Sept. '59, Joseph Oct. '60 and David Mar. '62. She divorced John after 25 years of marriage and returned to Boise with her boys and entered the work force. She worked for Moffet Thomas as a legal secretary in 1976 and then worked for Eberle & Berlin for the next 20 years until her retirement in 1997.
In the early 80's, Joanne became involved with the Rajneeshpuram and her spiritual journey began. Her legal name became MaAmrit Savito, which means "Eternal light." She was an avid gardener till the end of her life and loved to read and learn and even became an artist in her retirement. She was a spiritual, organic free spirit.
She is survived by her four sons, John Michael, Tony, Joseph, David, 4 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, 3 great-granddaughters and 4 great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her son, Daniel, and ex-husband, John.
She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Savito requested no service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of choice in her name. "Start your enteral light," Savito.