Mary Laun “Gina” Jannotta died on October 1, 2024, surrounded by family at her home in Santa Barbara, California.

She will be best remembered for her bright smile, boundless energy and drive, and her creativity and warmth.

Born on April 28, 1936, in Evanston, Illinois, to parents Harold and Mary Rapp Laun, Gina was raised in Kenilworth, Illinois, with her younger sister, Katie.

She attended New Trier High School, and graduated from Smith College (BA, 1958). Returning to Chicago, she soon met the love of her life, Joe Jannotta (died 2018). They were married in 1960 and embarked on one of the great partnerships of all time.

She was the wind at Joe’s back, cheering him on as his entrepreneurial bent led him on an unconventional and highly successful career path. Together, they were adventurers, exploring the world, but always coming home where family and friends could be found.

Though Gina loved a shoestring budget, the homes she created along the way were legendary for their style, warmth and welcome, always beckoning guests with the aroma of something savory simmering on the stove.

She had an uncanny visual flair — whether decorating a room or dressing for dinner — layering color, unconventional textures and objects together into something dynamic and unexpected.

For Gina, playfulness and humor were necessary parts of any creative mix.

Against the backdrop of Glencoe, the near-north side of Chicago, and her cherished Castle Park community in Michigan, Gina and Joe raised their three children, Mary, Martha and Sepp.

Whether to museum outings, sporting events, road trips or special birthday dinners, Gina brought her best to the thing she loved most — being a mother.

Hers was a life of movement — and over the years she played tennis, paddle tennis, skied and took up golf. She was a dedicated swimmer and took to the water almost every day for the last 45 years of her life.

She was a tireless organizer — there was not a closet she couldn’t tackle or a car she couldn’t pack.

She liked to say, “Convenience is my middle name,” harkening to her sometimes blunt style and desire to get from Point A to Point B with utmost efficiency.

She positively vibrated when working in a crisis or under a time crunch, quickly marshaling her resources to get things done.

Outside the home, her proudest accomplishments involved her commitment to the arts and her long service as a docent at the Art Institute of Chicago where, starting in the early 1960s, she taught countless children about the world of art — and the art of seeing. In the early 1990s, she served as president of the Women’s Board.

Gina and Joe retired to Santa Barbara in the late 1990s. After Joe died, Gina continued to nurture an ever-widening circle of friends and affiliations, supporting local causes that celebrated the senses — food, flowers, music and art.

As an inveterate (and shameless) forager of the California flora and fauna, she took great pleasure in creating and sharing anything from big arrangements to nosegays.

She threw herself into volunteering and giving generously to organizations like her church, All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, the Music Academy and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, as well as the local architectural gem, Casa del Herrero.

Despite being physically limited during the past year, Gina maintained her bright smile and a warm welcome as she happily orchestrated the comings and goings of her sprawling family and many dear friends.

With the help of the amazing Anke and a host of dedicated caregivers at Casa Dorinda, her final months were busy with visitors and well-wishers, most especially her sister, her children, and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Her legacy is one of love, generosity, determination and a deep appreciation for all the good that life has to offer.

Gina is especially beloved by daughter Mary Jannotta Ireland, her husband, Doug Ireland, and children Haley, Jack (Emily), Billy and Josephine; daughter Martha Jannotta, her husband, Jay Mittelstead, and children Nick (Julia), Quin and Nell; son Sepp Jannotta and children Sylvie and Gigi; sister Katie Laun Hodgson Olson and family; and Joe’s extended Jannotta and Kelly families.

A service was held Thursday, October 3, 2024, at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Montecito, and a celebration of her life will take place next spring in the Midwest.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to All Saints Church, 83 Eucalyptus Lane, Santa Barbara 93108, or to the Music Academy, 1070 Fairway Road, Santa Barbara 93108.

Arrangements were by Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels.