Wilma Mimi Jacob

Dearly departed Mimi Jacob, as she preferred to be called without the Wilma, was born on October 27, 1940 and died July 2, 2025. Originally she was born in Bogota, Columbia in South America. My mom lived in Cali, Columbia for awhile until she decided to come to the United States to study business in Fall River, Massachusetts and then finally living out the rest of her life in Carrollwood Meadows Tampa, Florida. Mom had several signs of Alzheimer’s dementia, and was finally diagnosed with it a few years later, but that was not the cause of her death. She had a heart attack at some point that we did not detect, and had some fluid in her lungs, that an x-ray showed the diagnosis they said was congestive heart failure, which could be treated, they thought, since she had not had a cold and no symptoms of one so they ruled out pneumonia. A few days later, she was having trouble breathing, even after all the treatments that we had given her, and I decided to take her to the hospital where she was fine at admission time, but later, while doing an EKG, she had a cardiac arrest, and then two more after that. The doctors resuscitated her and also put her on a ventilator on her to breathe. They found two blood clots in her lungs. I prayed and prayed for her to go peacefully, and for an angel to help us. A priest came in and said he had read her her last rights the night before. We were not present at that time when he did this and the priest came in and said I can help you. “I will give you an extra special advanced prayer for last rights”. After he did, the nurse that had been caring for her all night asked if she believed in the Virgin Mary. To our surprise he offered to sing a hymn and little did he know my mother loved the Virgin Mary and worshiped her as well as Jesus. He started to sing the song with all of us around her bed, and the priest also knew the song he was singing in Spanish, and then they prayed an Our father and a Hail Mary in Spanish. It was a special moment. My daughter emotionally asked my mother who had her eyes open. “Did you like that? And is that what you needed?”. She then nodded her head three times and tried to smile after not being able to move anything for two days and all her numbers dropped to zero. She had passed peacefully. A miracle indeed, and a prayer answered.

Mimi was a loving mom and grandmother. She was a wonderful wife, loving her husband, with all her heart, and she was always a true Lady indeed. She had so many friends that loved her dearly and she loved them just as much. She was also a hard worker, she had secretarial skills, and keyboard skills including shorthand and worked at the Colombian consulate for a while before choosing to come to the United States to study business in Fall River, Massachusetts. She worked for a lawyer in downtown Tampa, and at a Montessori school as a teacher before working at Luria’s jewelry store from which she retired after 15 years there. Her hobbies included art and she loved to dance with my dad and even acting. She did at one time. She was never afraid to put herself out there and she also became a U.S. citizen all on her own and since she didn’t drive this was an accomplishment. She was always great at writing speeches or prayers for any celebration or family gathering including my dad's funeral.

I hope this did her justice. We will miss her. Always loving and so proud of her husband, Manuel Jacob(Manicero); eldest daughter, Diane Garza(Muneca); deceased daughter, Natalie Jacob(Natalita Princessa); youngest son, Manuel Jacob Junior(Mi vida). As well as her wonderful grandchildren, Vincent(Vincenzo Mundo), Bradley(Peanut butter cup) and Jasmine Rose(My Jazzy) along with my husband, Ray Garza.

Mimi is predeceased by her parents, Mary Luz Ruiz, Luis Humberto Monge Ruis, brothers Raul, Edgar, Luis; and sister Gil Monge Ruiz; mother-in-law, Antonia Jacob; and husband, Manuel Jacob as well as her daughter, Nataly Jacob.

Mimi is survived by her loving son, Manuel Jacob Jr., her caring daughter, Dianne Garza, her strong son-in-law, Raymond Garza, and her wonderful grandchildren, Vincent, Bradley and Jasmine Rose Garza; along with many other family members.

Your family of angels is there waiting for you. Fly High precious mom.You were loved and you lived your life to the fullest! Thank you for everything xoxo Forever in our heart’s Unforgettable you!