Obituary for Jeannette Calabria
Jeannette A. (Oulds) Calabria passed away peacefully at 4:55 PM on Tuesday September 13 at the age of 82 in The Highlands. Her husband Kevin was by her side praying with her. She courageously battled pancreatic cancer for three months since its diagnosis.
Jeannette was a 1957 graduate of Gov. Mifflin High School. She earned a Master’s Degree from Winterthur. Her areas of expertise were Pennsylvania German crafts and folk art, carved animals, redware pottery and early American furniture. She had one of the finest collections in the country. She had a keen eye for quality. Her home was a museum. Her best friends were the artists and craftsmen who created her treasures and memories. Her mentor was the late Lisa Millard.
She was a master chef. Her tastes were as eclectic in her kitchen as they were in her art collection. Every organic dish was prepared with pride and precision. She was friends with all of the merchants at the farmers’ markets as well as the local farmers whom she visited. She was a friend to those who needed a friend. She had a quiet manner about her. She was a listener. She exuded friendship and humility. She had no agenda other than to be kind.
She retired after a 35 year career as an office manager at Raylon Corporation at age 59 to care for her father “Daddy” and her mother in law Cecilia A. Calabria. She believed that service to them was the reason she was put on this earth. She was an avid bird watcher and gardener. She loved watching the international space station fly overhead. She called it “Zippy”. She loved The Hallmark Channel and New Age soft music. Most especially, she loved her home in the woods, her place of peace and tranquility.
She attended Sunday Mass and breakfast with the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. She loved them and they loved her. They were her kind of people, tireless servants and loving. They shared their love of God with Jeannette. She deeply mourned the loss of too many of her Sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents Howard “Lefty” Oulds and Anna (Harcar) Oulds and her three brothers Gerald Oulds, Howard “Doc” Oulds and Richard Oulds. Her Oulds family meant everything to her. She lost her long time loyal companion, miniature poodle Cokie, many years ago.
Jeannette is survived by her loving husband and soulmate of 42 years Kevin S. Calabria. She was the perfect wife. She is also survived by her in laws: Nancy Oulds, Greg Calabria, Candy Calabria, Ken Davis, Dr. Alice Davis, Beth Anne Calabria, Cheryl Frederick and many nieces and nephews.
She was President of Calabria Investments, specializing in real estate and collectibles. Her taste for interior decorating was unsurpassed. She was stunningly beautiful. She loved Colonial Williamsburg, the Notre Dame Grotto, Mackinac Island, Cape May, Acadia National Park, Joanna Furnace and Banff.
She will be sorely missed by those who loved her. Visitation will be 9:00- 11:00 a.m. at Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading on Wednesday September 21. A service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Brett Reider officiating. Please show your love for Jeannette by making a charitable contribution in her name to The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters 450 Saint Bernardine Street Reading, PA. 19607 to the attention of Sister Maria Bartos. Thank you in advance. Thank you to those who cared and prayed for her in her moment of need.
Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.
Coach Kevin Calabria
"Many are invited but few are chosen.”
Jeannette was a 1957 graduate of Gov. Mifflin High School. She earned a Master’s Degree from Winterthur. Her areas of expertise were Pennsylvania German crafts and folk art, carved animals, redware pottery and early American furniture. She had one of the finest collections in the country. She had a keen eye for quality. Her home was a museum. Her best friends were the artists and craftsmen who created her treasures and memories. Her mentor was the late Lisa Millard.
She was a master chef. Her tastes were as eclectic in her kitchen as they were in her art collection. Every organic dish was prepared with pride and precision. She was friends with all of the merchants at the farmers’ markets as well as the local farmers whom she visited. She was a friend to those who needed a friend. She had a quiet manner about her. She was a listener. She exuded friendship and humility. She had no agenda other than to be kind.
She retired after a 35 year career as an office manager at Raylon Corporation at age 59 to care for her father “Daddy” and her mother in law Cecilia A. Calabria. She believed that service to them was the reason she was put on this earth. She was an avid bird watcher and gardener. She loved watching the international space station fly overhead. She called it “Zippy”. She loved The Hallmark Channel and New Age soft music. Most especially, she loved her home in the woods, her place of peace and tranquility.
She attended Sunday Mass and breakfast with the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. She loved them and they loved her. They were her kind of people, tireless servants and loving. They shared their love of God with Jeannette. She deeply mourned the loss of too many of her Sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents Howard “Lefty” Oulds and Anna (Harcar) Oulds and her three brothers Gerald Oulds, Howard “Doc” Oulds and Richard Oulds. Her Oulds family meant everything to her. She lost her long time loyal companion, miniature poodle Cokie, many years ago.
Jeannette is survived by her loving husband and soulmate of 42 years Kevin S. Calabria. She was the perfect wife. She is also survived by her in laws: Nancy Oulds, Greg Calabria, Candy Calabria, Ken Davis, Dr. Alice Davis, Beth Anne Calabria, Cheryl Frederick and many nieces and nephews.
She was President of Calabria Investments, specializing in real estate and collectibles. Her taste for interior decorating was unsurpassed. She was stunningly beautiful. She loved Colonial Williamsburg, the Notre Dame Grotto, Mackinac Island, Cape May, Acadia National Park, Joanna Furnace and Banff.
She will be sorely missed by those who loved her. Visitation will be 9:00- 11:00 a.m. at Kuhn Funeral Home, West Reading on Wednesday September 21. A service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Brett Reider officiating. Please show your love for Jeannette by making a charitable contribution in her name to The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters 450 Saint Bernardine Street Reading, PA. 19607 to the attention of Sister Maria Bartos. Thank you in advance. Thank you to those who cared and prayed for her in her moment of need.
Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.
Coach Kevin Calabria
"Many are invited but few are chosen.”