Janet Gallagher Jacobs, 89

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Janet Gallagher Jacobs, formerly of Dover, died peacefully of natural causes in her home, in Alexandria, Va., with several family members in attendance, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2008. She was 89. Janet was born on July 29, 1919, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the third daughter of Constance McDonald and John "Jack" Gallagher. Janet, elegant, dignified, and sociable, was blessed with many wonderful attributes, among them her youthful curiosity, strong opinions, and genuine love of a good story (especially one with a laugh at the end). Janet graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, and Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y. (1942). During graduate studies at Fordham University, N.Y., she met and married the love of her life, Michael Collins Jacobs. Their love and devotion created a family of nine children, while they traveled far and wide throughout the United States and overseas during his military career and afterwards. In 1959, the family settled in Jericho, Vt. Over the next three decades, Janet's many activities centered on her family, religion, and a diverse, caring, and lively community. From 1988 to 2005, Janet, and Michael, until his death in 2002, lived an active life in retirement in Dover, where Janet was active in Church and community affairs. She is especially remembered for her pro-life work with DE Life PAC and other community organizations. She was particularly devoted to meeting the spiritual and material needs of unwed mothers. From 2005 to the end of her life, Janet lived among her family in St. Albans, Vt., and Alexandria, Va. Janet is survived by two sisters, and by six children: Michael of Alexandria, Va., Janet of Lynchburg, Va., Jerome of Westminster, Colo., Mary of Toronto, Canada, Constance of St. Albans, Vt., and Genevieve of Burlington, Vt. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass and reception at St. Thomas Church, Underhill, will take place in late May during Memorial Weekend of 2009. Donations in her memory may be directed to the Society of the Sacred Heart Retirement Fund, 4389 West Pine, St. Louis, MO 63108.