For Jeanette Jaramillo, life has always been about caring for others. Whether she was raising seven children, running her own businesses, or helping students through her work with the William S. Hart School District, she dedicated herself to supporting those around her. Today, however, she has discovered something equally important: caring for herself.
A member of the SCV Senior Center community for the past two years, Jeanette describes walking through the doors of Bella Vida as one of the most meaningful chapters of her life.
Born in Seattle and raised in Los Angeles, Jeanette moved to Santa Clarita as a single mother seeking better educational opportunities for her three children. She purchased a condo and built a life centered around family, determination, and hard work. Along the way, she became a successful business owner, operating both a cleaning company and a home remodeling business.
Long before women were commonly seen in the trades, Jeanette was breaking barriers as a handywoman. Inspired by her father, a carpenter who taught her the skills of home repair, she built a career transforming homes and proving skeptics wrong.
“People often doubted that a woman could do this kind of work,” she recalls. “But I always proved them wrong.”
Of all her accomplishments, Jeanette is most proud of her family. In addition to raising her two sons and daughter as a single mother, she later adopted and raised her niece’s four children. Her greatest success, she says, is seeing the close relationships her children share today.
After completing cancer treatment several years ago, Jeanette found herself feeling isolated, frail, and unsure of what came next. That changed when she discovered Bella Vida.
Today, her days are filled with pickleball, chair Pilates, line dancing, tap dancing, and meaningful friendships. She also credits the Senior Center’s counseling services with helping her work through experiences and challenges she had carried silently for years.
“Coming here has given me purpose,” she says. “For most of my life, I focused on taking care of everyone else. Coming here is something I do for myself.”
Jeanette’s advice to others considering getting involved at the SCV Senior Center is simple: “Do it. Don’t overthink it—just do it.”
Her story is a powerful reminder that new beginnings can happen at any stage of life. Through friendship, activity, and community, Jeanette has found renewed strength, confidence, and joy—and in doing so, has become an inspiration to everyone around her.