Obituary of Catherine G. Jacobs

2-16-1924 to 8-6-2015 Died peacefully, attended lovingly by family and caregivers. Preceded in death by parents, Michael Angelo and Anna Mae (King) Gattuso; aunts Sister Mary Carmel (Catherine) King, Mary Agnes King Hendricks and Margaret; uncles Willie and Johnny King; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen (Jacobs) Clark, Joseph Clark, Bernice Ann Iliff (Jacobs), Dr. John Paul Jacobs, Earl and Norma Jacobs, Don Jacobs, Richard Jacobs, Merle Jacobs, Bernard Jacobs, Edwin Jacobs. Survived by husband of 65 years, Francis “Jake” Joseph Jacobs; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Stewart Iliff, Sister Therese Jacobs, Sisters of Charity of B.V.M. and Marion Jacobs; sons William M. (Martha), Daniel F., Phillip L., Kenneth P. (Judith) and Stephen A.; daughters Mary Ann (Robert) Stark, Judith M. (Michael) Richardson, Catherine C. McFerrin; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many children cared for in her 25 years of in-home daycare service. Also survived by cousins Philip and Rita Dattilo, and Frank and Jamie Gattuso and family. Catherine was born in Memphis, TN to Michael Angelo and Anna Mae Gattuso, she attended Sacred Heart School, St. Agnes Academy (1941) and Business School. During WWII she worked as a secretary at Memphis Gas & Water and belonged to the Catholic Club. She met Jake in August 1944 at the Memphis Naval Base. They married at St. Joseph Church in Memphis on June 17, 1950. She was an award winning bowler. She and Jake's first ten years were in Davenport Iowa and then came to St. Paul where the family resided on Ashland Ave 43 years. Members of St. Luke Church and School. Catherine, a loving wife and mother, was active in school and parish, Girl Scouts, Bridge Club, Mounds Park Hospital and CANA. She had a 25 year career in home daycare. She was instrumental in establishing the MN state daycare licensing certification. She and Jake were avid square dancers, line dancers and with Roseville Squares entertained at numerous nursing homes and community centers. She enjoyed all of nature in family camping, scouting and later RV touring in 48 states visiting family and enjoying the RV lifestyle. She and Jake became snowbirds the past twenty years near Palm Harbor, FL. They came to Cerenity Marian Center a year ago where they have been lovingly cherished and cared for. Our thanks to the staff, the priests and chaplains who serve at Marian and HealthEast Hospice, medical teams who have given joyful and peaceful transition. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am Tuesday, August 11, 2015 in St Mary’s Chapel at Cerenity Care Center-Marian, 200 Earl Street, St. Paul. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, August 10 at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Ave., St. Paul 4-8 PM with sharing of memories beginning at 7 PM. There will be an additional visitation at Cerenity-Marian 1 hour prior to Mass. Memorial preferred to individual choice or to Cerenity-Marian.