Jacquelyn A. "Jackie" Mitchell

Jacquelyn A. Mitchell

1962 - 2022

Jacquelyn A. “Jackie” Mitchell, 60, entered into eternal rest Monday, September 26, 2022 at her longtime residence at 310 W. Bertsch St., Lansford, PA surrounded by loving family and friends after a seven-year courageous battle with cancer. Born on May 04, 1962 in Palmerton, PA, Jackie was the daughter off the late Madelyn Lesko Mitchell Gazo, who passed away in 1996, and the late John Mitchell, who passed away tragically in an automobile accident while Jackie was seven months in utero in March 1962. Jackie was the stepdaughter of the late Bernard Gazo, who passed away in 2009. She was the loving niece and caregiver of the late Anne Lesko, with whom she resided from 1998 until Anne’s death in 2012, and Mary Lesko Knepper, who passed away in 2013. Jackie graduated second in her class from Marian Catholic High School in 1980 and attended Immaculata University outside Philadelphia on a full academic scholarship. After graduating with high honors with a Bachelor’s Degree from Immaculata in 19984, Jackie received her Education certification in Chemistry from LaSalle University in 1987 and went on to teach high school Chemistry and related subjects for more than 28 years before her cancer diagnosis and treatments forced an early retirement. Specifically, she taught at Cardinal Brennan High School, Fountain Springs, or 18 years and at Pottsville Area High School for 10 years. She went on to obtain her Master’s Degree of Education in Chemistry from De Sales University in Center Valley, PA. She was a former Secretary of the Carbon County Democratic Committee and a former Treasurer of the Lansford Democratic Club. She was a lifelong active parishioner of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church in Lansford, having served as a lector and on various committees until its closing in 2016. She was a current member of St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley. She was an avid fan of the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, and 76ers. A cat lover, she rescued and cared for many strays over the years, and was an active animal rescue advocate in her later years when her health allowed.

She is survived by her brother, Attorney Brain Gazo, and his wife, JoLynn, of Mahoning Twp., and by her sister, Dr. Jennifer Gazo Vermillion, who played a significant role in coordinating and administering her care giving over the final months of her illness, and her husband, Dr. Richard Vermillion, of Summit Hill. She is also survived by two nephews, Ethan Vermillion of Summit Hill and Maxwell Vermillion of Los Angeles, CA. She was also lovingly and selflessly cared for by many friends and neighbors too numerous to mention here by name.

Jackie specifically requested the following message be included in this obituary: “In addition to my wonderful friends and caregivers, a special thanks to the Miners Hospital Third Floor Infusion Nurses, whose care and good natured humor made these last many years tolerable. I always looked forward to seeing theses lovely nurses.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 30, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. in St. Joseph Parish of Panther Valley Church, 462 W. Ludlow St., Summit Hill, Pa with Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Orsulak and Rev. Robert George co-celebrating. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Summit Hill. Family will receive friends Thurday 6-8:00 P.M. and Friday morning 10-11:00 A.M. all in the church. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Carbon County Friends of Animals, 77 W 13th St., Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, the Hillside SPCA, 5 S P C A Rd., Pottsville, PA 17901, or to St. Joseph Parish of the P.V., 118 N. Market St., Summit Hill, PA 18250. The Sverchek-Blazosky Funeral Home has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Online condolences at www.blazoskyfh.com.

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