Jackie Occhipinto

Jackie was born in Kansas City Missouri to William Francis Schaal, Sr. and Nelly Marie (Park) Tracy on January 19, 1938. She was the oldest of their 4 children. Her father went to heaven when she was 6 years old. Marie remarried and had 4 more children.

Jackie went to grade school and spent her younger years in Wingate, Missouri. Going to high school in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. She was a member of the marching band and played the trumpet. Her high school band placed 1st in the district music contest at Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg. They went on to compete in Columbia for a 2nd place at State. She graduated in 1956. After high school she moved to Kansas City where she worked at Winstead’s on the plaza.

Jackie is survived by her children, Vonna E. Occhipinto, Maria S. (Occhipinto) & Mike Gaines, L. Noelle (Occhipinto) & Tad Heater, Anthony (Kelly) Occhipinto, Fred Occhipinto & Melissa; grandchildren, Jeffery, Leslie, Amber, Charles, Michael, Jennie, Brandon, Madison, Megan, Kalyn, Alexandra, Anthony, Hannah, Courtney, Adam and Kayla, twenty-six great grandchildren; one great-great grandson, Ezra; her brother, Richard (Chris) Tracy; sister-in-law, Anita Schaal; her sister, Marie (Tracy) Stice; and her favorite brother-in-law, Tom Stice; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents; sister, JoAnn Brandus; brothers and sister-in-law, William & Sue Schaal, JA Schaal, Fredrick Tracy, Harvey Tracy; and her precious great-grandson, Garhett Richard.

Jackie was a devout Catholic, she was a member of Saint Charles Borromeo in Oakview, Missouri for over 20 years. In her retirement years she was a parishioner of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church of Gallatin, Missouri.

Jackie enjoyed traveling one of her favorite first trips was taking her grandparents across the country to Washington State. Jackie would make several trips to see her family in Wilsonville, Nebraska. She would do all kinds of ornery antics with her younger cousin Jimmy Park. She always enjoyed her visits with Grandma Shaal and her cousins when they visited in Pleasant Hill. She enjoyed her family and seeing them was always a priority for her. Every year she would plan a 2 week vacation. We would drive to Arizona, Las Vegas or Los Angeles. She enjoyed driving and showing her children the scenery. She was able to go see Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee with her sister and favorite brother-in-law.

After marrying, Jackie ran a home childcare so that she could be at home every day when her kids came home from school. She was always highly recommended by all the grade schools in our area. She still to this day has people that remember her as their babysitter.

Jackie would later go out to the workforce where she worked at Bob’s I.G.A. Cook’s Paint and US Gypsum. Her time at US Gypsum were some of her favorite, where she formed lasting friendships. She retired from there in 2002.

After retiring Jackie was able to realize her dream of building a home and living lake front on Lake Viking. She found many friends that were family to her. The friendships that she built through her years at the lake were her saving grace as she aged. The people that would help our mother while she lived there especially through covid. Keeping her safe, making sure that she never needed for anything from mowing her lawn to bringing her meals, she especially enjoyed Troy's Catfish. To checking every time they went to town to see if she would need anything. To driving her to the city for doctor’s appointments. She would always say “I am not alone, I have so many that take care of me” when we would try to get her to move back to the city.

December of 2021 her children made the decision to bring her back to the city where she was living in an assisted living community. This did not work out for her and her sister and brother-in-law selflessly gave up their retirement dream of travel to come home to take care of her. She lived with them the final 8 weeks of life.

We are forever grateful for their sacrifice for our Mother and the love that they bestowed on her and her children.

We would also like to thank Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for their dedication and care for our Mother.