Jacqueline Savard

Jackie was born on June 6, 1963, in Rome, New York, to James and Bernice (Trainor) Murphy. She was the sixth of eight children in her close-knit family. Jackie grew up in Oneonta and graduated high school in 1981. She went on to nursing school and spent her career providing gentle, attentive and personal care to her patients. Jackie married the love of her life, David Savard, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1990.

Together, they raised three children and welcomed three precious grandchildren. Jackie loved being a mom and was consistent, caring, patient and fiercely protective. She was quick to laugh and play and lose herself in the small, joyful moments of motherhood. She loved Christmas and birthdays and any opportunity to gather everyone together around her kitchen table. The births of her grandchildren brought new joy to her life, and she relished every moment she had with them.

Jackie had a generous spirit and a kind heart. Among her siblings, she was the quiet sister, and a devoted one, always maintaining loving relationships in her family. She went to great lengths to bond with her nieces and nephews, making each of them feel treasured and loved. She sent books and cards and forget-me-nots — once even going so far as to overnight fireflies to California to share their beauty. She would arrive for family visits in a camper loaded down with games, crafts, puzzles and snacks, ready to play with the kids all day and laugh with the adults into the night. She never wanted to miss a minute of it.

In her community, Jackie built close relationships with neighbors, friends, co-workers and especially her in-laws. Roy and Mary Savard and their extended family were among her dearest friends and most important support system — a second family she loved and for whom she was grateful.

Jackie would have traded anything for more time with her family, and she did, foregoing her own comfort over more than two years of surgeries, radiation treatments and chemotherapy in relentless defiance of cancer. She did it so she could have more camping weekends with her children and grandchildren, more holiday dinners and card games, more family reunions and hugs with her siblings, and more quiet days at home with Dave.

Jackie had a gift for giving each person her complete attention, making everyone feel like her favorite. Her death leaves all those favorite people grateful to have known her, heartbroken at her loss, and determined to keep and carry her love. She is survived by her husband David; her children James Shea and his fiancee Amanda Wheeler of Albany, Leah Shea of Malta and Corey Savard and his wife Ayumi of Schenectady; and grandchildren Cali Skiff and Charlie Rice. She is also survived by her siblings Michael Battisti of Binghamton, James (Susan) Murphy of Oneonta, Maryellen Murphy of Oneonta, John (Jana) Murphy of Greensboro, North Carolina, Sandy (Dave) Fitzsimmons of San Jose, California, Jane Murphy and Steve Simmons of Oneonta, and Megan Murphy of Binghamton. She will be deeply missed by her loving in-laws and her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She is predeceased by her parents James and Bernice Murphy and her grandson Cooper Skiff.

The family asks that anyone who wishes to make a donation in Jackie’s memory choose a charity that benefits children.

There will be a celebration of life in remembrance of Jackie at a later date. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Frary-Stuart Funeral Home, Tupper Lake. Online condolences can be made at www.fraryfuneralhomes.com.