Jacqueline “Jackie” Marie (Southern) Bressette
To know Jackie is to love her. She really was everyone’s friend, taking a keen interest in people’s lives and remembering details which indicated her sincere desire to connect. So it is with heavy hearts that we share news of her passing on March 4, 2024, just a few weeks after she celebrated her 80th birthday. Mom’s health issues, from Rheumatoid Arthritis to kidney disease, Leukemia to cardiac problems, got the best of her.
Since March 2020 Mom had been a resident of Brookdale Twin Falls. The folks there finally have a shot at winning Bingo and the crossword game now that Mom has ventured off to new territory. Prior to living at Brookdale, she resided in “old town” Twin Falls in our family home she and Dad purchased in 1970. She was healthy and busy in those days, working at The Times News in circulation for 31 years and engaging in her hobbies. She amassed a collection of ribbons and medals earned for walking faster than everyone else in her age group in 5-K’s around the Magic Valley. Her bowling prowess was honored with recognition in the form of trophies. Somewhere along the line she developed sharp-shooter skills and was able to knock down clay pigeons from a moving cruise ship. Cruises allowed her to haul back home all sorts of treasures, like various sheepskin products from Australia and New Zealand, T-shirts from Cozumel and Alaska, perfume from France, etc.
Mom wasn’t always a world traveler though. She grew up on a small farm south of Bellevue, Idaho. Dad must have known that “5B” was where the cool people live, because he rolled into town in 1964 and swept Mom off her feet, marrying her six months after laying eyes on each other. He whisked her off on a cross-country adventure before returning to Blaine County, Idaho to settle down and raise a family. Dad was a ranch hand and Mom a homemaker before they moved to Twin Falls. At that point they swapped roles, with Mom bringing home the bacon and Dad frying it up in a pan. Mom was prepared to work outside the home with her office administration knowledge gained by attending Kinman Business University in Spokane, WA. Her beautiful penmanship and ninja grammar skills could have landed her a job teaching, had she wanted to do that.
Mom was born in Hailey, Idaho on December 30, 1943. She married Donald “Don” Bressette on October 30, 1964. They raised two daughters, born in 1965 and 1968. Dad died November 29, 2014. Mom is also preceded in death by her sister Martha Jane (Southern) Wallace and their parents Lonnie and Martha (Sherbine) Southern. She is survived by her daughter Victoria [Carl] Reeb, grandson Jackson Reeb [Alix] and great granddaughter Wrenley; and granddaughter Allison Reeb. She is also survived by her daughter Cynthia [Jon] Siverts and grandson Benjamin.
Heartfelt gratitude to Brookdale Twin Falls for their loving support and friendship. And appreciation to Visions hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please support the care of animals. Mom loved cats and doggos, and would be pleased to know that humans left behind are taking care of them. Speaking of fur babies, Mom is also survived by grandkitty Cami and granddoggo Princess Todd “Toddi.”