Jacqueline Horrobin

Jacqueline Ann “Jackie” Horrobin passed away on July 21st at the age of 88. Jackie was born on August 13, 1933 in Fall River, Massachusetts to John and Hazel Fogarty. Jackie had two younger siblings, Gerald and Patricia.

Jackie graduated from Durfee High School, where she was a majorette. She loved to perform: singing, dancing, and baton twirling. She met Robert Horrobin (Bob), the love of her life, in 1954 at a dance. Bob was a Navy Corpsman on temporary leave in Newport. He asked her to dance 3 different times but her dance card was always full until that third and final try when he swept her off her feet. They were married in 1955 and spent 62 wonderful years together before his passing in 2017. Together they had 9 children, 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Jackie was a devout Catholic. The decision for her to marry Bob was influenced by the priest because Bob was not Catholic when they were betrothed. Thankfully, the priest gave his blessing and a wonderful marriage and life unfolded. Jackie had 11 pregnancies, resulting in 9 live births and 2 that she lost before birth. She also lost her second born, Robert William Jr. when he was 2 years old. Her faith never waivered and together, Jackie and Bob built a strong Catholic family. Due to Jackie’s love and commitment to her faith, she often volunteered at church, was involved in the Cursillo movement attending many Cursillo weekends and Ultreyas and the Kairos community. She also worked as the Religious Education director at St. Margaret Mary and St. Peter and Paul churches.

Jackie also loved being a Navy wife. Bob was in the Navy for 27 years and Jackie supported him in all of his assignments and endeavors. She held a variety of positions in the Navy Wives’ Club and Naval Officers Wives’ Club including President, Vice President, Ombudsman, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter and more. She was in mixed and singles bowling leagues at the base, being known to return to bowling a week after giving birth – baby in one hand, bowling ball in the other.

Jackie was also a wonderful mother. She poured herself into her family. In addition to the support she gave Bob, she was involved in all of her children’s and grandchildren’s activities. She chaperoned field trips, was a Girl Scout cookie mom, volunteered to demonstrate baby care at the kids’ high school, was the neighborhood kool-aid mom, let all the kids come swimming at our house, and, when the kids got older and grandkids were born, she devoted herself to them. She would light up when she saw or heard kids coming to her. And she made the best cookies in the world.

Lastly, Jackie loved to perform for her family. She loved to sing and dance and write wonderful stories. She was the best storyteller ever. She was animated and all of the kids still remember all of the wonderful songs and stories she shared. She was the best mom, grandmother and great grandmother (GiGi) ever. She was a wonderful, beautiful woman. We loved her very much.

Jackie is preceded in death by her parents, John and Hazel Fogarty, her brother Gerald Fogarty, her son Robert William Horrobin, Jr, and her loving husband of 62 years, Robert William Horrobin. She is survived by her 8 children: Kathleen Campbell (Paul), Elizabeth Albee (John), Cynthia Tengstedt, John (Virginia), Michael, Patricia Wing, Thomas, and Anne Hudson (Nick). She is survived by 16 grandchildren:

Bruce McLay (Frances), Christopher McLay (Nikki), Traci McLay (Bo), Sean Albee (Kate), Jennifer Payne (Jeremy), Victoria Walters (Eric), Christin Clifford (Daniel), Dominick Fazzolare, Michael Tengstedt, Jr. (Renae), Haley Horrobin (Brandon), Michael Horrobin, Jr., Tiffany Millering, Robert Horrobin, Jaclyn Wing, Melissa Keep (Wesley), and Scott Hudson III. She is survived by 19 great grandchildren. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Correia and many loving nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park on Thursday, July 28th at 9:30am followed by a funeral mass at 10:00am and reception afterward. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jackie’s name to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Community Outreach.