Jacqueline Ann Lamb Nagorny

JACQUELINE ANN LAMB NAGORNY

Many of you knew Jackie, most of you (hopefully) know someone like her.  She had many loving friends who came to know her because she was loved by a mutual friend.  And that's simply who she was: a loving, caring, generous, humble child of God.  While her family will be grieving her loss for a while, they will all the more be celebrating her life and giving thanks for the manifold ways in which this beautiful child of God was a blessing to all of us who knew her (and who probably blessed many who did not know her).  She truly believed that we are here foremost for each other, and she lived out that belief in all she did.  She believed we are called by God to care for each other, to share each other's burdens, to laugh & cry together, and most of all, to love each other. As a long-haired, bearded wise man once said 2,000 years ago, it all comes down to "love God, love neighbor." And that's exactly what Jackie taught her children. She was such a GOOD teacher!!!

Jackie passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017.  She was born and raised in Susquehanna, PA to Fred and Louise Lamb, the second oldest of 7 children (Toni, Jackie, Tommy, Larry, Jane, Eric, Amy).  Young Tommy died early in life, and we lost sister Amy to cancer in 2011.  Jackie had a life-long love affair with music of all kinds, and was selected for All-State Chorus in high school.  She was blessed to marry her high school sweetheart, George Nagorny, with whom she enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage.  The good Lord blessed her and George with a son (Jeff Nagorny, wife Kathy, daughter Katie, son Jason) and a daughter (Beth Semptimphelter, husband Tom, son Stephen & wife Christina), all of whom she loved deeply until her last breath.

For those who may not know, Jackie started her career in health care volunteering as a Gray Lady (Red Cross volunteers who provided non-medical care, wearing gray uniforms) at Riddle Memorial Hospital.  She later earned her Associates in Applied Science - Nursing degree (leading to her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification) at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital, and then completed the nursing program at Delaware County Community College (where she was the #1 student in her class) leading to her Bachelors in Nursing and, upon successfully completing the boards her first time around in July 1993, she earned her Registered Nurse license.  She worked at Misericordia Hospital (now Mercy Philadelphia Hospital), as well as for general practitioners Dr. Harold Wilkinson (Swarthmore, PA) and Dr. E.C. Smith (Ardmore, PA).  She devoted much of her time in the last 15 years to volunteering at Community Volunteers in Medicine, West Chester, a clinic that was founded to provide healthcare, hope, and healing to uninsured working adults and their children in order to reduce costly emergency room visits and hospital admissions.  She also served as an ordained Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and as a Stephen Minister.

To celebrate the life of Jacqueline Ann Lamb Nagorny, there will be a memorial service on Saturday, April 29 at 12:00 Noon at First Presbyterian Church, West Chester (visitation starting at 11:00 AM), and a Celebration of Life party hosted by the family at the home of Jeff & Kathy Nagorny starting at 3:00 PM.  All are invited to both events.  In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to share an Act of Random Kindness with someone in need, and/or donate to Community Volunteers in Medicine or Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter in West Chester.