Jacqueline "Jackie" S. Ferguson-Romine

She is survived by her husband, Steve Romine and her daughters, Crystal Romine and Rachel (Marc) Gerardi, as well as a son she lovingly placed for adoption earlier in life, knowing that another family could provide him with the life she could not at the time. She also is survived by her brother, Mike Ferguson, sister Janice Simerly, and nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Robert Ferguson.

Born in Enid, Oklahoma, she grew up in the Lima/Van Wert, Ohio area.

After growing up in The Marsh, a children's home in Van Wert, she was accepted at The Columbus College of Art and Design for her artistic ability. She took pride in her jobs with The State of Ohio and The Columbus Dispatch, but the job she always said she enjoyed the most was being a stay-at-home-mom, which she referred to as a "Domestic Engineer."

She was a vivacious, creative, kind, loving, comical and gentle soul whose ability to chat with anyone and carry on long conversations was unmatched, as she never knew the term "stranger." For a petite woman who stood only 4'11", she had an animated presence far larger than her frame.

She enjoyed gardening, hummingbirds, exploring her Scotch-Irish heritage, and all things involving merry-making and holiday celebrations. She enjoyed accessorizing her outfits and adding "just a touch of glitter" to her makeup and many other things, and never subscribed to the idea that aging meant boring. She loved going to festivals, events and dancing. A lifelong animal lover, Jackie adored her many pets over the years, including her beloved “grandcats.”

She was a church goer and always gave credit to the Lord and knew she was a child of God. She emphasized that certainty to her daughters, that they, too, were children of God and never let them forget that she prayed for them all the time.

Her greatest loves in this life were her two daughters. She was often present with her daughters and their friends throughout various adventures and shenanigans in life.

To her daughters friends who knew her, she was a special person with a unique flair and silly "spark plug" personality, often encouraging self expression and embraced laughter. She was tenacious and thoroughly inquisitive... and always on the tail of her daughters mischievousness when they were children and teenagers (and even still into adulthood).

Though she faced many of the challenges that come with mental health struggles, Jackie’s empathy, openness, and ability to connect often made her a friend and confidante to those who walked a less conventional path. Her challenges emphasized for her and family the significant gaps in our healthcare system and the need for continued improvement, particularly when serving the geriatric population who have behavioral health care needs. May people continue to advocate for and be trailblazers for that population and the deficits that exist.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 2:00pm - 4:00pm at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 E Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230. Family will receive friends again at the funeral home the following morning, Monday, October 20, from 11:00am - 12:00pm. Jackie's funeral service will follow the brief visitation, beginning at 12:00pm.

Services will conclude with interment at Mifflin Cemetery, Gahanna, OH.

Jackie lived with curiosity, compassion, and courage. Her light and laughter will be so deeply missed by those who loved her.

A special thanks to Care 360 Hospice their care, compassion, and kindness towards her and the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the following in Jackie's Memory:

The Marsh Foundation

Donate: The Marsh Foundation https://share.google/he6uNp42DUqfiTBwi

The Columbus College of Art & Design Wolfe Associates Scholarship Endowment:

The Columbus Foundation https://share.google/xm4YwrepoUdMu5T4z

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) https://share.google/tbZR0qWO1HtsrAbxE

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: Donate to help youth in foster care THRIVE.

https://share.google/ObF1ouO9OMYY673fa