Jone married Felipe Zabala in 1977, but never expected the couple would make a permanent move to the United States.  Although she had some initial troubles adjusting to life in Hailey, Idaho, she soon found Basque friends to help her feel more at home.  Jone learned English through employment at her daughter's school, where she worked as a cook for 14 years.

Jone's and her husband's parents still reside in the Basque country, and so the couple has spent most of each year there, where they still feel very much at home.  Daughter Lisa Maria was raised speaking Basque, and chose to travel to Gernika for her higher education.  Even though Jone and her husband feel proud of America, they are happiest in the Basque country, whose current situation they like to discuss.