Jacqueline Anne Sterling, nee Love, died on June 18, 2026.
She had a smile on her face, recalling a great life, and knowing that she was loved and had been loved.
Born in Saskatoon, Jackie took enormous pride in her Prairie roots, and all the leafy branches that stretched through Scotland, Maine, South Dakota, and through many, many towns of Saskatchewan. She felt she was incredibly lucky to be a kid in the 50’s, descended form veterans, homesteaders and Scots, with her beloved grandma who taught her to sew living just around the corner, loving her roller skates and tap shoes, a safe community, her big family and attentive parents. Jackie valued her dogs, art, sewing, travel, golf, tennis, scuba diving, friends, huge dinners, the Roughriders, the Swifties, the glory days of her real estate friends in the 80’s, pool parties, running Grandma Jackie Camp in the summer, mussels, Boundary Bay, Point Roberts, parades, civic activism, the beach, gardening, times of boating through the San Juans, and being surrounded by all who valued opinions, literacy, community action, and not waiting for the world to owe you a living….
She loved many people, perhaps none as fiercely and gratefully as her granddaughters Lainey, Isla and Cleo. (parents Jennifer Balfour and Harold) Her time with them in the summers will follow them all their lives.
Plagued by back pain since her 20’s and the burden of early arthritis from a spinal fusion, the last few years were very, very hard. With loss of vision, language, mobility, hearing, and even a comfortable few minutes, she observed often that the golden years were anything but golden, and ageing was “not for sissies.”
Some great times were had before her decline started; she went out on her own terms with dignity and autonomy, looking forward to seeing her dogs on the other side and all the family that has gone before her, including her beloved brother Rod, her parents Jim and Bea, her grandma Nixie, and her husband Tom. Friends said, “I was proud to be her friend” and “I had the best times of my life with her.”
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cook Street Senior Centre in her name, or ROAM (Reuniting Animals with Owners), would be appreciated. The senior centre is gratefully acknowledged for the gift of community, dignity and meaningful connections even in times of advancing frailty. Endless thanks for the compassionate, exceptional care and kindness by her family doctor Dr. Tim Mckay, and for the exceptional community provided by the staff and gracious friends of Carlton House. (by Jennifer Balfour)
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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