Mildred was born and raised on the family farm in Rugby, North Dakota on June 26, 1928, one of six children of Ralph Kenneth Jennings and Agnes Tweet Jennings. She loved sharing stories of farm life, of milking cows, churning butter and riding her Shetland pony Bob to her one-room schoolhouse. She attended Rugby High School and lived with city relatives in winter months when snowy roads made it difficult to travel. She attended secretarial college in Fargo, North Dakota.
While in Fargo, Mildred met John on a double date and fell in love. They followed John's family to Bakersfield, CA and married in 1948 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church. Mildred worked for Alford and WJ Thomas Architects for many years.
Mildred lived a full and happy life. She had a positive outlook and never had a bad word to say about anyone. She raised seven successful, strong-willed children and loved them all unconditionally. She kept a spotless, organized home and was an excellent cook. Holidays meant big gatherings with beautifully set tables ladened with her homemade dishes. Mildred was a thoughtful woman. She took her time to find the perfect greeting cards and always sent them with a sweet note in her flawless penmanship.
A sports fan through and through, Mildred especially liked baseball. You could find her at the sidelines of her kids' games, keeping score and stats. She followed college football but the Dodgers were her team. If you phoned her during a game, she'd have to call you back. She was fiercely competitive at all board games and cards, and played bingo religiously. She enjoyed the slot machines at Eagle Mountain and in Las Vegas where she'd play into the wee hours, easily outlasting even her youngest grandkids.
A lover of travel, Mildred saw Europe, Hawaii, the Carribean islands and much of the United States. Her favorite vacation story was of a trip to Jamaica when she and John bought colorful matching shirts from a roadside stand and wore them proudly all day. She said she couldn't understand why passersby were pointing and laughing and learned later that they were wearing a marijuana leaf print. Needless to say, they never wore those shirts again but displayed them in their closet for amusement. That was Mildred. She loved a good laugh and never took herself too seriously.
Mildred was an original member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and took pride in sending all seven of her children to OLPH Catholic School. She was active in the Young Ladies Institute, Meals-On-Wheels and the The Italian Catholic Federation branch #281.
Her Viking heritage made Mildred resilient. She defeated cancer twice and beat back many other health issues in later years.
She was preceded in death by husband John Papasergia, sisters Hazel McMeekin, Dorothy Busch and Arlene Enns and brother Bob Jennings.
She is survived by brother Errol Jennings, daughters Valerie Hashim (Chuck), Denise Cutbirth (Mike), Nanette Schroeder (Eric), sons Mark, Michael, Thomas and John Papasergia, grandchildren Matthew and Stephanie Roberts, Elizabeth, Vittoria and Isabelle Cutbirth, Jennifer Maguire (Sean), Andrea Hansen (Michael), Elliot and Jordan Schroeder, Jessica Gilbert (Nick), Jenna Papasergia-Sandler (Jake), Daniel Papasergia, and Cole Quarles-Papasergia and great-grandchildren Sam Walker, Hannah and Alex Hansen, Olivia Gilbert and many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are nephews Brian Griffiths, Pat Papasergia, Sam Parks, Archie Parks, David Todahl and family friend Leonard Zasoski. Honorary pallbearer is family friend Tom Gundry.
Thank you to Bertha Ferguson and Theresa Arambula who cared for Mildred so lovingly the past few years.
Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 am, Friday, November 25, 2022 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 124 Columbus St, Bakersfield, CA with internment immediately following at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mildred's name to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Scholarship Fund, 124 Columbus Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305.
Mildred is survived by daughter Valerie Papasergia Hashim (Chuck); daughter Denise Papasergia Cutbirth (Michael); son Mark Papasergia- Bakersfield, California; daughter Nanette Papasergia Schroeder (Eric)- Wasco, California; son Michael Papasergia; son Thomas Papasergia- Bakersfield, California; and son John Papasergia- Bakersfield, California; brother Errol Jennings- Norfolk, Virginia; granddaughter Jennifer McGuire (Sean)- Melbourne, Australia, granddaughter Andrea Hanson (Michael) -Bakersfield, California, great great grandchild Hannah and Alexander, grandson Matt Roberts -Oxnard, California, granddaughter Stephanie Roberts-Bakersfield, California, granddaughter Elizabeth Cutbirth- Pasadena, California, granddaughter Vittoria Cutbirth- Santa Barbara, California, granddaughter Isabelle Cutbirth- Fort Collins, Colorado, great great grandchild Sam Walker- Santa Barbara, California, granddaughter Jessica Schroeder- Okland, California, grandchild Elliot Schroeder- Wasco, California, grandchild Jordan Schroeder- San Diego, California, great great grandchild Olivia Gilbert, grandchild Jenna Papasergia Sandler (Jake)- Bend, Oregon, grandchild Daniel Papasergia- Chico, California and grandchild Cole Papasergia- Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A funeral service for Mildred will be held Friday, November 25, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 124 Colombus Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306.
Serving as pallbearers are Brian Griffiths, Pat Papasergia, Archie Parks, David Todahl, Sam Parks, Leonard Zasoski and Tom Gundy.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Papasergia family.
