Jacqueline Janesky
Age - 84
December 2, 2023
Jacqueline D. Janesky passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 28, 2023, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her 3 children: Cindy (and James Purvinis) of Tucson, AZ; Tracy (and James Tishion) of Tucson, AZ; and Jason (and Heather Janesky) of Campbell, CA; six grandchildren: Chris (and Taryn Purvinis), Michelle (and Kevin Mason), Patrick (and Tran Tishion), Megan, Calen, and Conor; and six great-grandchildren: Madelyn, Rory, Amelia, Emersyn, Ella, and Brady. She was the only daughter of the late Frank and Edna Pezdirc born in Reading, PA. After graduating from Reading High School in 1957, she attended Albright College and received a Bachelors of Science degree in 1963. While getting an MS in Education in Earth Science at Penn State University in 1968, she met the love of her life, Albert. They married on August 24th, 1968, and settled into family life in New Milford, CT for the next 25 years. She and Albert both became teachers. Jackie, a 7th grade life science teacher at Schaghticoke Middle School in New Milford and Albert, a high school biology teacher at Bethel High School during that entire time. Their combined focus on the values of education and family were a source of direction that helped and changed the lives of countless young people. Throughout her successful career she was a loving, caring, supportive, funny, and intelligent wife, Mom, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother. She was an avid history buff, crafter, loved sewing and crocheting as well as tending to her many gardens. Every summer she and Al packed the car, loaded the family and set off on a 10,000-mile trip around the United States. From National Parks to state capitals to Hollywood, they would cover the Western US many times. Together they imparted their love of travel, education, sports, and science to the entire family. Retiring together, they moved to Tucson in 1993 and embarked on a new journey. Jackie and Al had a passion for traveling the globe, so Jackie once again went back to school to become a travel agent. She has visited all 50 states, all 7 continents, over 40 countries, and even went to a wedding in India of one of Al's former students. One of their main travel interests was to visit famous historical sites including Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the Coliseum in Rome, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. They also focused on nature with trips to major destinations like Victoria Falls in Africa, safaris in Africa and South America, to Antarctica, and even across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. When not globe-trotting, she spent her time with friends and family, watching her children start families of their own and her grandchildren grow up. She somehow found time throughout all this to follow her love of science and teaching to volunteer at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and OLLI-UA, collecting fossils and buddhas, as well as many other things! She will be missed and fondly remembered by all whom she touched including family, friends and those across the world. Many thanks to Casa De La Luz: Casa Hospice at The Hacienda for their superior comfort care for Jackie in her final days. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to be made to: roots & roads Community Hospice Foundation (www. rootsandroads. org) or the Alzheimer's Association (act. alz. org). Visitations will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, from 6 to 8 PM and a memorial service will be on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 9:30 AM at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 E. Grant Rd. Tucson AZ.Show more
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