Jacqueline Harriet (Hale-Olague) Mumma died May 16th at Silverado Memory Care, surrounded by her loving family.
Jackie was born Oct. 19, 1927, in San Francisco, CA. She was the doted-on only child in an extended family, who together lovingly persevered during the Great Depression, and made surviving a great adventure for her. The independent women in her family, who survived hardships with grace and optimism, were a source of pride to her and role models throughout her life.
As a teenager, she moved to Los Angeles with her mom and stepfather. There she met and married her high school sweetheart, Johnny Mumma, in 1946. They began a family of nine children, and, despite the financial challenges, worked together as partners to pursue his dream of graduating from college, med school and becoming a physician. Their dream came true.
After the completion of his residency, John and Jackie moved to Bellingham in 1963, to begin his practice as an anesthesiologist. They found a wonderful, grand old house on Forest St, capacious enough for the family of eleven to spread out. Jackie called it a “miraculous gift.” She loved sharing it with the community, whether it was a reception for Van Cliburn, a fund-raising event for League of Women Voters, a recital for one of her children, or a location for a neighborhood daycare.
Jackie was the consummate mom, encouraging her children to be independent, resourceful, and kind. The Golden Rule was a touchstone for her, and a value to which she held her children. Her extraordinary creativity was one of her strongest gifts. There was always an art project going on at home or an unexpectedly imaginative take on a school assignment. She encouraged her children to volunteer, to play an instrument, to participate in school activities and sports…to follow their passions whether showing a beloved horse, playing baseball or cheerleading at a high school football game. She loved seeing her creativity reflected in their achievements in the arts; poetry, stained glass, pottery, sketching, watercolors, and photography.
Throughout her life, Jackie loved celebrating family events and the holidays, particularly Halloween. Her decorations were epic! We will never forget the time she dressed up as a witch and stood on the roof of the porch, stirring a steaming black cauldron, cackling away, as trepidatious trick-or-treaters approached the front door!
Jackie loved to fish. Give her a stick, a string, a paper clip and a bit of cheese, and there’s going to be a fish on that line. She was an intrepid treasure hunter at garage sales and the Goodwill. There wasn’t a shoreline she ever traversed that didn’t hold her eye, while she hunted for agates, glass floats or pretty shells. An avid birder, she was dedicated to spotting the dipper at Whatcom Falls Park every year during the Christmas bird count. She had a serious green thumb, and much of her beautiful garden was cultivated to attract the birds; woodpeckers, hummers, finches, tanagers and swallows.
She loved Mozart, British mysteries and Humphrey Bogart. After moving to Bellingham, Jackie got to know Louie Mideke and was a frequent visitor to his studio, and collector of his beautiful pottery.
Jackie was particularly proud of her English and Basque roots. A trip to the Basque country with her family was the fulfillment of a lifelong personal dream.
She was a steadfast Democrat and advocate for women’s rights, but she longed for the days when Democrats and Republicans shared cordial relationships as neighbors and friends and could find common ground to solve problems. She imagined a more just, more respectful and safer world for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her deep-rooted empathy made her an enduring advocate for the underdogs in society.
No account of Jackie’s life story would be complete without mentioning her pups, Jessie and Sugar. They were her cherished companions.
Most of all, Jackie and John loved being surrounded by their family; their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and aunts and uncles. They found welcoming arms wherever she and John lived, and all were a constant source of pride and joy.
She is survived by her husband of 77 years “Dr. John”, seven daughters and a son; Judy (Sid) Schwab, Janet, Jill (Gary) Blair, Joyce (Darrell) Cooley, Jeri, John, Jane (Bob Rude) Major and Jeanne, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Joan, and her granddaughter, Shanti Cooley.
