Jaqueline Lee Howald

Jacqueline Lee (Edwards) Howald, 90 of Rootstown passed away on September 17,2024 of natural causes. She was a resident of Rootstown for 65 years then spent the last year in Kent at the wonderful home of her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Richard Eichler providing loving care with the assistance of Hospice and Home Instead.

Born October 3,1933 in Chicago, Illinois to parents Harry and Vera ( Brower) Edwards.

They moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio where Jackie attended Cuyahoga Falls High School graduating Class of 1951.She went on to the University of Michigan where she studied nursing and graduated in 1955 returning home to Cuyahoga Falls and worked at Akron City Hospital. She married Robert Charles Howald in July 1955, having 6 children then divorced in 1964.

Preceding her death are parents Harry and Vera (Brower) Edwards, her youngest son Steven Howald, great-granddaughter Addison Lee and brother-in-law, Robert Spellman. Jackie is survived by children Susan (Richard) Eichler, Jacqueline Radel, Jeffrey (Carol) Howald, Brian (Carol) Howald and Christine (Daniel) Hall, 22 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 1 great- great-grandchild, sister Susan (Edwards) Spellman and numerous nieces and nephews. Jackie took pride in knowing all her grandchildren's names and birthdays and always celebrated them with a birthday or anniversary card over the years. Along with her growing family she continued to keep in touch with her high school classmates and attending all the reunions. She was one of the last remaining four in the class of 1951along with Peg Stevens, Sally Hrdlicka and Laurie Dunham as they all continue to keep in touch.

Her nursing career brought her to Lamson and Sessions in Kent where she was the Ohio Occupational and Safety Nurse for many years until bought by RB&W. She continued to work there until they closed in 1982. She returned to Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna working on 3 East until her retirement in 1994 caring for her mother, Vera Edwards until her death in 2003.

A member of the First United Methodist Church of Ravenna Jackie was active with the ladies’ auxiliary group, Sunday school, and summer Bible Vacation often attending with her own grandchildren. Many family gatherings were held here. Jackie's retirement, her mother, Vera's 90th birthday, and her own 80 and 90th birthday celebration to accommodate her large family traveling from Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Tennessee and Florida.

Jackie kept active in the Rootstown Garden Club, Birthday Club, swimming classes, Red Hat's, church groups, Society for the Blind (treasurer), and Dr. Brinker's eye care group. With all this she still never slowed down. She loved to travel and went on 3 mission trips with Dr. Brinker to El Salvador, took her mother to Europe visiting Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1990 with the Kent United Methodist Church and Reverend Denton. She frequently drove with her mother to visit relatives in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Florida. She went to Blossom Music Center for the summer concert series for years with her daughter, Susan, and also traveled together to Toronto on a bus trip to see a Broadway show. She traveled with daughter Jackie to Williamsburg for a history vacation. She enjoyed her morning coffee and newspaper at her kitchen table watching her bird feeders and awaiting the yearly hummingbird visits. She loved trying to identify all the birds who visited and kept a diary of who arrived and when every year. You might have caught a glimpse of her hanging out her window with a stick to chase the squirrels off her feeders! Jackie also had a passion for baking. Always using new recipes, she found in the Sunday paper or in her collection of cookbooks. She provided many baked goods to her clubs and organizations, even sending your favorite cookies to you while in college. The kitchen-aide mixer was one of her pride and joys.

The family would like to thank the Western Reserve Hospice for the assistance they provided this past year along with Home Instead. You have both been such a fantastic group to work with. We would like to recognize Emily LSW, Kristen RN, Trina aide from Hospice along with Lisa and Leslie from Home Instead. These ladies provided so much support to the family and developed a special bond with Jackie and hold a special place in our family's heart.

A celebration of Jackie's life with be held at First United Methodist Church of Ravenna 263 S. Prospect Street, Ravenna, Ohio 44266 on October 26, 2024 at 2pm. Minister James Lewis officiating. Following the service a dinner will be held in the rectory. Everyone is invited to attend and come tell their own story of Jackie's life. Condolences and special memories of Jackie can be shared with her family online at www.heritagecremationsociety.com