Ishpeming – Mary A. Jacobson, age 96, longtime resident of 208 S. Second St., Ishpeming, passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming. Mary was in the loving care of her family the staff at MCMCF and the U.P. Home Health and Hospice at the time of her death.

Mary was born December 9, 1918 in Ishpeming the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Donato) Valela. She was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1937. Mary worked at the H.W. Gossard Co. in Ishpeming as a seamstress and later worked at St. John's School as a cook, and then at the St. Vincent de Paul Store in Ishpeming prior to her retirement. Mary will be fondly remembered for her love of cooking and baking of Italian specialties, especially her spaghetti and meatballs. Mary's faith was the cornerstone of her life. She was a devout Catholic and a member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church along with the Paisano's Club.

Survivors include 4 children – Marianne (Antonio) Cafiero of Basking Ridge, NJ, Robert (Barbara) Jacobson of Holt, MI, Frank Jacobson of Decatur, GA, and Cathy (fianc é Mike Tasson) Jacobson of Ishpeming, 2 sisters – Teresa Bertucci and Catherine (Pete) Carlson both of Ishpeming, 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Jacobson, daughter – Nancy Gervasi, sons – Peter and Erick Jacobson, sister Clara Joseph and brothers – Joseph and Bruno Valela.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 5 until 8pm on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home, where a parish prayer service will be held at 7:45pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Monday, June 15, 2015 at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming with the Rev. Fr. Larry Van Damme to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the services in the K–D hall at the church.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons – Cory, Chad, Kirk, Erik, and Neil Jacobson, Ben Maki, Brandon and Jeremy Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. John's Catholic Church Memorial Fund or the St. Jude Children's Hospital at stjude.org

Mary's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .