The Founder

Jo-Ann Lautman, OUR HOUSE Founder

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word extraordinary as: a) going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary;
b) exceptional to a very marked extent; c) employed for or sent on a special function or service.

OUR HOUSE defines the word extraordinary as: Jo-Ann Lautman.

Everyone who knows Jo-Ann Lautman is well aware of her mantra: To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; Not only plan, but also believe. It was well over 15 years ago that Jo-Ann had a dream for something great that would benefit our entire community. She believed in her dream and began to plan on how to take action to make her vision a reality.

That vision was OUR HOUSE. It came from Jo-Ann’s 20 years of professional experience, which began in the 1970’s. During that time Jo-Ann was involved in all aspects of the life cycle that included leading Mommy/Daddy and Me groups and Step-Parenting groups. For ten years she concentrated her energies in the area of death and dying, and facilitated hospice support groups at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Groups of this nature had become a concept that was growing for the patient as well as their family and friends. Jo-Ann was realizing more and more the need for a freestanding safe haven where people of all ages can go to rebuild their lives after the death of a loved one.

With persistence and hard work the doors to OUR HOUSE opened in October of 1993. Jo-Ann had indeed established a safe, healing environment for children, adults and families coping with the death of a loved one. Her dream had come to fruition as has been seen by many at one of life’s most difficult passages, and over the past 15 years, the agency has accomplished so much. And it all began with Jo-Ann’s vision.

At the heart of all of Jo-Ann’s efforts is her wonderful family. She and Dan have been married for 40 years and together they have six children and four grandchildren. Jo-Ann continues to dream and plan and act. She looks forward to expanding and opening satellite offices here in California and throughout our country.

She knows first-hand what a valuable resource OUR HOUSE would be in every state, city and community. On July 14, 2005, Benjamin Harris Lautman’s tiny heart failed and he died. It was two days short of his fourth birthday. Jo-Ann and Dan dedicated Ben’s Quiet Room, in memory of their grandson, in the agency’s West Los Angeles office and Ben’s Corner in the West Valley office.

It is with great love and respect that OUR HOUSE in 2007 presented the Founder’s Award to Jo-Ann Lautman.

About Us