HORNELL-Jacquelyn (Paine) “Jackie” Walker, 82, of Victor, formerly of Main Street in Hornell, passed away Monday morning (June 19, 2017) at Rochester General Hospital after a 17-year battle with cancer.
Born in Hornell on May 18, 1935, she was a daughter of the late Verne and Doris (Clark) Paine. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her daughter, Patricia Kerwin on May 12, 2012 and her granddaughter, Courtney Walker.
A former resident of Almond, Jackie attended Alfred-Almond Central School when it first opened in 1940 and graduated from there in 1953. In 1958, she graduated from Fredonia State College where she majored in music education and then continued her education at Geneseo State College where she received a master’s degree in elementary education.
Jackie began her career as a teacher at the Navy School in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she taught sixth grade. She then taught music for one year in Hornell before teaching first grade at Alfred-Almond Central School for two years. For two years she taught fourth grade at the Bryant School in Hornell where she also taught reading for another two years. Before she retired from the Hornell City School District she taught second grade at the former Columbian School for one year and then taught first grade for another 17 years.
A resident of Hornell since 1960, she served as the choir director at the First Presbyterian Church and later at the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell where she was a very active member and directed the Community Christmas Cantata for four years, taught Sunday School and was a Church School Superintendent. Throughout the years she also served as an elder, organized the church public dinners and sang in the choir. Jackie was also active in the community and was at one time a Camp Fire Leader and was a member and past President of the Board of Directors of the Hornell Children’s Home.
She devoted her life to her family and especially enjoyed spending time with them playing card games, doing puzzles and traveling. She always went above and beyond in her role as a grandmother by being loving, proud, supportive and caring for her grandchildren when they were babies and later attended their concerts and sporting events. Jackie created a family legacy for everyone to carry on. She will also be remembered for being skilled at sewing, doing crafts and for being an amazing cook and an avid reader.
Her loving family includes her devoted husband of 61 years, Gerald “Jerry” Walker who she married at the Almond Union of Churches on June 24, 1956; her two daughters, Teri (Joseph) Mauro of Victor and Nancy Stewart (Robert Shephard) of Cobleskill; her two sons, John (Kathleen) Walker of Chandler, Ariz. and Brian (Bridget) Walker of Penfield; her son-in-law, Michael Kerwin of Manlius; her 13 grandchildren, James (Cassie) Mauro of Farmington, Jennifer (Timothy) Harris of Victor, Kathryn (Thomas) Zaccardo of Irondequoit, Michael Mauro and Matthew Mauro both of Victor, Daniel Marnell of Rochester, Christopher Marnell of Syracuse, Emily Stewart of Cobleskill, Quincy (Matthew) Biamonte and Jake Walker all of Tempe, Ariz. and Danielle Walker and Nicholas Walker both of Penfield; her two great-grandchildren, Teddy Mauro of Farmington and Conor Harris of Victor; her sister, Nancy Kallin of West Seneca; as well as several nieces and nephews.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in Hornell is honored to serve the family of Jacqueline (Paine) “Jackie” Walker.
Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Friday (June 23, 2017) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Relatives and friends are invited to meet the family in the sanctuary of the United Presbyterian Church, 150 Main St., Hornell where a funeral service will be held in her memory at 11 a.m. Saturday (June 24, 2017). Private interment will be in Alfred Rural Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either the United Presbyterian Church, 150 Main St., Hornell, the Hornell YMCA, 18 Center St., Hornell or to the Hornell Children’s Home, 233 Main St., Hornell, N.Y. 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences or remembrances of Jackie are welcomed at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
