Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Roscille Colburn-jandali |
| Birth name | Roscille C. Costner |
| Date of birth | June 23, 1941 |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California |
| Residence | Reno, Nevada |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno, 1988 |
| Occupations | Licensed nurse, hospice caregiver, former United Airlines flight attendant, licensed private pilot |
| Licenses and certifications | Registered nurse, private pilot certificate (earned 1978) |
| Faith and community | Active Christian since 1969, church volunteer, Mothers of Preschoolers helper, CASA volunteer |
| Spouses | Earl Colburn Jr. married 1963, widowed 1998. Abdulfattah John Jandali married 2006 |
| Children | Two biological children; fostered 35 children over 14 years; two fostered counted as family like her own |
| Stepchildren | Steve Jobs 1955 to 2011, Mona Simpson born 1957 |
| Grandchildren and great-grandchildren | 13 grandchildren, multiple great-grandchildren |
| Notable activities | Helped launch volunteer hospice in Fallon, served 11 years as Volunteer Coordinator; 14 years as home-health nurse; per-diem hospice nurse in Reno |
Early Years and First Callings
Albert Ross Costner and Lucille Crawford had Roscille Colburn-jandali on June 23, 1941, in San Diego. In 1959, she graduated from Arcadia High School in Southern California, setting the groundwork for a life of caring, service, and adventure. She went to beauty school and worked in a Monrovia salon, learning to listen as well as style. This was the first of many roles where empathy trumped skill.
Her love of flying led her to train in Chicago and become a United Airlines flight attendant in the early 1960s, first in Miami and then at LAX in Manhattan Beach. The job required composure, quick judgment, and a grin. Living at 30,000 feet taught her the quiet professionalism that would define her nursing career.
Marriage, Motherhood, and a Home Full of Children
She married United Airlines pilot Earl Colburn Jr. in January 1963.She returned to terrestrial life with energy after company policies obliged her to quit from flying. The couple built a busy home around faith and children in the San Fernando Valley. They raised two biological children and 35 foster children over 14 years. Two became her family through and through. Five international exchange students stayed with the household. The dynamic, open-hearted home practiced compassion daily and had global dinner chats.
By 1969, the family was deeply involved in a non-denominational Christian church. Service projects, Sunday school, and youth ministry stitched the family into their community, and faith became a steady compass.
Nevada, Homesteading, and the Open Sky
The Colburns moved to Nevada in 1973, first to Reno, then to Fallon, where they built a 24-acre property in 1977. The property had horses, animals, and 4-H projects. Children learnt responsibility and adults relished land management on this ranch-refuge.
Roscille again reached for the sky. After taking flying lessons since 1976, she passed her private pilot certification in Truckee, California, in 1978. Flying became a hobby and a reminder of lifelong growth. She kept her license and aviator’s optimism for decades.
Nursing as a Second Vocation
In the 1980s, when others may slow down, she changed course again and returned to school. Reno University awarded her a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1988. Both her children graduated on the same day, one with a bachelor’s in business and the other in speech pathology or medicine, a memorable moment for families.
After 14 years as a home-health nurse, she helped start a Fallon volunteer hospice program. She developed an end-of-life culture of presence and dignity as Volunteer Coordinator for 11 years. Her nursing career shifted from clinics and living rooms to hospice, where listening and quiet courage matter most. She began per-diem hospice work in Reno in the 2000s and continues to do so, proving service can age gracefully.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, care and loss were common. Her mother, who had Alzheimer’s, moved into a Fallon property mobile home in 1989 so relatives could watch. Earl was diagnosed with cancer in October 1997. They acquired a Maui condo that season to escape before the final chapter. Sources disagree on when he died in January 1998, and her mother died on May 1, 1998. Love and Roscille’s nursing skills guided their final journeys.
Faith, Service, and CASA Advocacy
Her life has revolved around faith since 1969. She volunteered at Mothers of Preschoolers, church offices, and wherever needed. She represented abused and neglected children in court as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in the mid-2000s. The duties varied, but the goal was to defend the weak, stand up for the voiceless, and keep families together.
A New Chapter: Marriage to Abdulfattah John Jandali
Roscille relocated to Reno in 2003 from Fallon. She soon met Abdulfattah John Jandali in Fallon while consulting. Two lives became one when they married in 2006. Born March 15, 1931, in Homs, Syria, Jandali is a Ph.D. and former political-science professor, as well as a hotel and casino operator at Boomtown in Reno. They love Hawaii, the ocean, warm weather, and nice wine. They exercise in the mornings and stay healthy and grateful.
She married and became stepmother to two famous people: Steve Jobs, born in 1955 and adopted at infancy, who died in 2011, and Mona Simpson, born in 1957. Even with famous relatives, the home is intimate and grounded, where grandchildren’s laughing and garden work count more. One mixed family has 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Family at a Glance
| Relation | Name and Details |
|---|---|
| Parents | Albert Ross Costner born 1911 died 1974, Lucille Crawford born 1915 died 1998 |
| Sibling | Penny Costner born 1943 |
| First marriage | Earl Colburn Jr., married January 1963, died January 1998 |
| Children | Two biological children, names not publicly detailed |
| Foster care | 35 foster children over 14 years, including two embraced as family |
| Exchange students | Five hosted in California and Nevada |
| Second marriage | Abdulfattah John Jandali, married 2006 |
| Stepchildren | Steve Jobs 1955 to 2011, Mona Simpson born 1957 |
| Grandchildren | 13 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren |
| Faith and service | Church member since 1969, youth and office volunteer, CASA advocate |
Timeline of Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1941 | Born in San Diego, California |
| 1959 | Graduated Arcadia High School |
| Early 1960s | Beauty college and salon work in Monrovia; trained as United Airlines flight attendant, based in Miami then LAX |
| 1963 | Married Earl Colburn Jr.; left airline due to company policy |
| 1969 | Began long-term involvement in non-denominational Christian church |
| 1973 | Moved to Nevada, living in the Reno area |
| 1977 | Settled in Fallon and built a home on 24 acres |
| 1976-1978 | Took flying lessons and earned private pilot certificate; exam in Truckee |
| 1988 | Earned BSN from University of Nevada, Reno; both children also graduated the same day |
| 1988-2002 | Served 14 years as a home-health nurse |
| 1989 | Mother moved to family property due to Alzheimer’s |
| 1997-1998 | Husband Earl diagnosed with cancer in October 1997 and died in January 1998; mother died May 1, 1998 |
| 2003 | Moved to Reno after 26 years in Fallon |
| Mid-2000s | Volunteered as a CASA for abused and neglected children |
| 2006 | Married Abdulfattah John Jandali |
| 2000s-present | Per-diem hospice nurse in Reno, ongoing church and community service |
| 2026 | At age 84, remains active in nursing, fitness, travel, and family life |
The Person Behind the Roles
Those who know her will say warmth first. She practices Christianity from hospital beds to gardens. She enjoys early morning gym sessions, remembers her pilot skills, and stays mentally and physically agile. Snorkeling, sailing, Hawaii’s sun, and a good wine toast with her husband rejuvenate her.
She has always had a safe place with children playing and flowers blooming. She preferred hospice hallways and CASA hearings to spotlight moments in her middle-class life of service. Genuine compassion is her credential. For 80 years, she has moved, caring, learning, and loving more with each season. Sky calls, garden develops, and family gathers around the table.
FAQ
Who is Roscille Colburn-jandali?
She is a Nevada-based nurse, licensed private pilot, former flight attendant, and lifelong community volunteer born in 1941.
Where does she live now?
She resides in Reno, Nevada, after 26 years in Fallon.
How many children has she raised or cared for?
She has two biological children and fostered 35 children over 14 years, with two of those fostered counted as family like her own.
Is she related to Steve Jobs?
By her 2006 marriage to Abdulfattah John Jandali, she became the stepmother of Steve Jobs and novelist Mona Simpson.
What are her key career milestones?
She earned a BSN in 1988, worked 14 years in home-health nursing, helped launch a volunteer hospice in Fallon, and continues per-diem hospice work in Reno.
When did she become a pilot?
She began lessons in 1976 and earned her private pilot certificate in 1978 after testing in Truckee.
What role does faith play in her life?
Faith anchors her daily choices, with church involvement since 1969 and ongoing volunteer service.
What does her family look like today?
The blended family includes 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, with members in Reno, Las Vegas, and Austin.
