Born in Acushnet, a daughter of the late Joseph H. and Rachel (Masse) Tisdelle she was a lifelong area resident and a long time communicant of St. Mary’s Church, New Bedford.
Jackie graduated from New Bedford Greater Vocational High School and later Bridgewater State with an Associate’s Degree. A well-known area musician, she was the former music director at St. Mary’s Church and was highly regarded for her lovely singing voice. Jackie’s faith and family were incredibly important to her. She was artistically talented in many ways including her beautiful wedding cakes and composing music.
She is survived by four children, Christopher Vardo and his wife Kristine of Acushnet, Joycelyn Vardo and her husband Robert Ketchum of Madbury, NH, Anne Vardo-Zalik and her husband Nathan of Lewisberry, PA, and Jonathan Vardo and his wife Sandra of Marion; six grandchildren, Michael Vardo, Timothy Ketchum, Scott Vardo, Rachel Zalik, and Jameson and Joseph Vardo; three sisters, Pauline Chmielewski and her husband Robert of Fresno, CA, Denise Branco and her husband Antonio of Assonet, and Marie Tanguay and her husband Gerard of New Bedford; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Joseph A. Tisdelle and Robert J. Tisdelle.
Her funeral will be Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 9 a.m. from the ROCK FUNERAL HOME, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 343 Tarkiln Hill Rd., New Bedford. Seating will be limited. Burial will be private. Visitation Monday 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Mary’s Church, 106 Illinois St., New Bedford, MA 02745, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 www.childreshospital.org, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org. For online tribute/directions: www.rock-funeralhome.com.
