Obituary of Jacqueline L. Stacey Zimpfer

We all have heard the ol’ christian belief that God sends each person into this world and trusts them with a special message to deliver, a special song to sing, or a special act of love to bestow.  Sometimes even for the briefest of moments in time, we don’t realize why a person crosses our path.  No one else can speak your message or sing your song or offer your act of love.  These were entrusted only to you by God.  

Jackie followed that path that God laid before her, she acted on that trust.  She spoke of God, she sang of God, she delivered the act of love not just to a few here and there; but to her family, friends, her church, to all who knew her.  It was God’s unique plan for her.  

The Love she shared warmed our world and even brightened the darkest of moments.   Her song, Her message and Her love will continue in each of our hearts.  Jackie’s final chapter has now been written. There were happy chapters, sad chapters, and exciting chapters found in those extraordinary pages of her life but what she showed us is we should not be afraid to turn that next page and see what the next chapter is about.     

Thank you Jackie for what you meant to each one of us in our family, 

Rick, Kayden, Heidi, Nick, Jaxson, Sharon, Mike, Justin, Chase, Kayla, Aliyah, Jaxson, Julia, Patrick, Jillianne, Joseph, Jared, Shannon, Braylyn, Brantley, Jameson, JR, Taylor, Courtlynn, Colt, Joseph, Paula, Joyce, and Scott.

Born Jacquelyn Louise Stacey the 2nd daughter to Jack and Josephine Stacey.  She had 3 sisters and 2 brothers.  Many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  She was fiercely independent.  Jackie retired from  Brevard County Schools as a special education teaching assistant.  She loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, playing basketball, the beach, going to concerts, all of her animals, hanging with her family, and of course Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church.  

Jackie married Richard Zimpfer on July 2, 1996, in a civil ceremony, sharing the same anniversary day as Jackie’s parents, and then received their Sacrament of Matrimony on October 22, 2021. Together they built an amazing life here in Palm Bay.  

Jackie was active in The Boy Scouts, Melbourne Central Catholic High School, and of course Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where she was enthusiastic to serve at the altar as a eucharistic minister or lector or the many church fundraisers over the years.  

Jackie’s last & final wishes knowing God was reaching for her hand and ending the fight she so valiantly fought were that she be in a State of Grace.  In her final weeks, she managed to achieve that Grace.  Mass every day, communion every day, confession every day.  Hearing of no sin, seeing of no sin, speaking of no sin.  

Josephine taught us  “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner”  Jackie embodied that quote.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 300 Malabar Road, Palm Bay with a viewing 1 hour prior to the mass. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Miller Street, Palm Bay.