Jacqueline Bell

Somerset, NJ-Jacqueline Bell (Patterson), also known as Jackie, departed this life peacefully on July 3, 2020 at 94 years old. She spent her last 18 months in Somerset NJ, under the quality care of a nursing home and the support of family and friends.

Jackie was born and raised in Oakland and Berkeley, California. Her vibrant high school years were dominated by the demands, sacrifices and opportunities of civilian life at a port of embarkation during World War II. Key among her many activities was her work to support our troops as a USO volunteer. During this time, Jackie met her husband to be, Navy sailor William (Bill) Patterson.

Upon the war’s conclusion, Jackie parted from her beloved Bay Area and siblings. She relocated to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she and Bill married and raised their three boys. Jackie fulfilled a breadth of occupations, including Veteran’s aide and an active PTA membership. As her children matured, she held positions as an accounting clerk, Postal Services mail sorter and as a Delta Airlines reservations agent. Her career culminated with the award of an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and a position as a Teacher Assistant at Lord Stirling Elementary School, New Brunswick, NJ. Post-retirement, Jackie leveraged her life skills and high energy supporting her three sons and their wives in the raising of her three grandsons ( . . . boys again). This role led to travel to Kansas and relocations to New Hampshire, Virginia and back to California. Jackie’s last position, affectionately known as GG (Great Grandma), drove her to return to New Jersey where she celebrated the birth and adoration of her first “girls”, two great granddaughters.

Jackie is survived by her brother, Robert Bell, son and daughter-in-law, Shane and Camilla Patterson; daughter-in-law Gwen Patterson, her three grandsons, Jason (and his wife Mona), Michael Jr. and Marques; and two great granddaughters, Zara and Raina, as well as a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her former husband, William Patterson, her sons, Michael Patterson Sr. and Douglas Patterson, her sister Geraldine Bryant (Woods) and brother Eugene Bell.

A Memorial service for Jacqueline will take place at a future time in consideration of the current COVID-19 health crisis.

More information can be obtained by request at email [email protected].

Thank you to Regency Jewish Heritage for their loving care and support in the last year of her life.

In lieu of gifts of sympathy, please support our veterans. Arrangements for cremation are with Neptune Cremation Society, Paramus, NJ.