Jackie was married very young and had two children, Tammi and Butch.

Jackie was a fashionista! At a young age she was drawn to a career in cosmetology. Jackie immersed herself in her profession, which included teaching and ultimately owning a successful beauty salon for many years. All the while, raising two children and sharing her earlier love as a drum majorette to coach her daughter’s cheerleading team.

Life circumstances intervened and Jackie realized she was not going to be able to cut and style hair for much longer, so she needed to change course and reinvent herself, one of her many redeeming qualities.   While running her shop, Jackie enrolled at Holy Family University, to pursue a teaching degree. Jackie notably excelled to the top of her class graduating with a 4.0 GPA.

Jackie took her first teaching job at Our Mother of Sorrows/Saint Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School.   Where she immediately immersed herself with her students in class, and also became involved in the children’s theater curriculum.

Jackie had an unfortunate accident while teaching which prevented her from continuing to teach at the caliber she was used to teaching.  Once again, Jackie charted a different path for herself. Jackie retired from teaching and took a job as a crossing guard in Cheltenham Township. Ultimately, Jackie was offered a full-time job at Cheltenham Township Public Works Department, where she said she felt like one of the guys, while serving the people of the Township.

Jackie had many interests beyond her professional career, husband, children and grandchildren. It was not uncommon for Jackie and David to spend their weekends on their mountain property in Berks County. There was plenty of grass to cut and Jackie just loved to get up on their John Deere tractor and ride it over the mountain terrain. Jackie was also very skilled at operating other heavy equipment like their backhoe or bulldozer, as the task required.  They loved to ride their ATV’s, snow mobiles, skiing, hiking the trails, target shooting with their rifles and bows and arrows and camping, were on the top of their list. Jackie and David loved to share the “Property”, with their friends and family, especially their grandkids. Each year they had their infamous Labor Day Weekend Party with close friends and family where everyone was invited to camp on their property. Not only the kids got to be kids at the Property for the weekend.  Most notably there was good food (pig roast), good fun, live music and always a bonfire large enough to be seen on the neighboring mountains, thanks to David. David also built a water slide and a zipline for kids and adults alike.

Wherever Jackie was, up at the Property or in the city, there were usually fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs to cultivate and harvest. This played very well in with Jackie’s love of the culinary arts. She loved watching the Food Network and coming up with different meals and experimenting with different foods to surprise David and her family. She was a great cook and caretaker to her core and that was evident in many ways.

Jackie always had a fondness for horses. This love of horses encouraged her and David to take horseback riding lessons, back in the day. In the last few years, they were able to visit Assateague Island National Seashore, to see the wild ponies and even adopt one named Charcoal and then off to races, to attend the Kentucky Derby, each on her bucket list.  Check, check!

Last, but not least, if you knew Jackie you knew of her love of hats, which she had many.  She loved her jewelry and scarves and all possible accessories that helped to create her own unique fashion sense! 

Jackie would want to be remembered as a strong woman, a teacher, a caretaker, a person who could roll with the punches and someone that could make lemonade out of lemons. She loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren and family. Jackie wanted to make as many memories as she could and live each day to the fullest, which she most certainly accomplished, and we, her family, are grateful to have been a part of Jackie’s journey.

Favorite sayings, “This too shall pass” “She believed she could, so she did!

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 6:00-8:00pm at Wackerman Funeral Home, 8060 Verree Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111 and Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 9:30am at St. Cecilia Church, 535 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111, followed by 10:30am Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers a contribution can be made to The Make a Wish Foundation, Shriners or Philadelphia SPCA, in Jackie’s name.

Floral deliveries may be made directly to the funeral home on Monday by 3PM