Obituary of Jacqueline Buckelew

Jacqueline "Jackie" Buckelew South Plainfield - Jacqueline "Jackie" (Austin) Buckelew, age 85, passed away on March 20, 2012 in the Care One at the Highlands in Edison. Born on November 13, 1926 Jackie was lifelong resident of South Plainfield. She attended school in South Plainfield and graduated from North Plainfield High School. She is predeceased by her parents Floyd L. Austin and Daisy Staton, her sister Louise Apgar and her brothers Edward, Donald "Doc" and Floyd Austin. Surviving are her sons James Buckelew and his wife Anne of South Plainfield and Richard and his fiancé Linda Mixon of Bradenton, Florida, and her 7 grandchildren; Lori, Cindy, Jim, Ricky and his fiancé Joy Santos, Stuart, Ryan, Meredith and Michael Moench. Also surviving are her former husband Richard Buckelew as well as sisters-in-laws; Elise Webster, Anne Frank, Betty Austin and Dot Buckelew, her brother-in-laws Edmond and Bill Buckelew and many nieces and nephews. Jackie attended St. Peter's School of Nursing, New Brunswick, NJ and served in the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. During her nursing career as a Registered Nurse, she worked at Birchwood and retired as Supervisor of Nursing Services from the NJ Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park. Jackie was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of South Plainfield, serving as Treasurer for 40 years, member of the Board of Trustees, Sunday School Teacher and custodian. She actively participated in the FISH Hospitality program, the Church's Bible Study and Women's Evening circle. She also was involved in Raritan Association Women's Ministries in particular the White Cross Program. As an avid traveler, Jackie traveled the world visiting Australia, the Middle East, South America, Asia, Africa and Europe including an audience with Pope John Paul II. Later in life Jackie was able to combine her nursing skills, with her love of traveling and her devotion to her faith by actively participating in missionary work in China, Ecuador, Nigeria and Kodiak, Alaska. In Lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations in her memory be made to Christian Medical & Dental Association, P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621 Attn: Maggie Combs. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, NJ 07080.