Mrs. Jacqueline Jeanne "Jackie" Westlake, 92, of White Pigeon, Michigan, passed away of natural causes at her home on Monday morning, September 20, 2021. She was born on August 5, 1929 in Elkhart to the late Burr E. and Rose Marie (Reiner) Nelson and later married Harvey N. Westlake, who preceded her in death in 1999.

Surviving Jackie is her daughter, Cathy Smith of White Pigeon, Michigan; her brother Thomas Nelson of Edwardsburg, Michigan; sisters Rosemary Miller of Union, Michigan, Sharon Stacker of Goshen and Diann (Jerry) Hoyt of Jones, Michigan; four grandchildren including Heather R. (Jack Culbertson) Tacy of White Pigeon (who was Jackie's primary caregiver), eight great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren, as well as a huge host of loving extended family, friends and one tiny rat terrier with a huge heart named Pork Chop. A daughter, Cynthia Cramer, and grandchildren Bryan Banghart, Michael Cramer and Gary Cramer precede Jackie in death.

Jackie's Celebration of Life services will begin with a visitation and viewing from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart. A funeral service will follow on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 11:00 am, with visitation beginning at 10 am. Pastor Steve Steele of the Kessington Community Church will officiate and burial will follow at Chapel Hill memorial Garden in Osceola, Indiana.

Jackie was an unstoppable force that lived life on her own terms for 92 consecutive years. Her "occupation" had her in the offices of Whitehall Laboratories for over 30 years, but along with that, she owned and operated Westlake Hardware and H & J's Tavern with her husband, Harvey, managed a mobile home park, raised a family, was a polio survivor, was an avid fisherperson, loved to bowl, play cards and dominoes, hosted foreign exchange students, founded a widow's support group, sang in a church choir, was a prolific reader and cooked the best fried chicken this side of the Mississippi River.

Indeed, Jackie loved the life she lived and never hesitated at going "all out" on everything she did, embracing all of her glorious imperfections along the way. She was a loving mom and grandma, and always enjoyed having her family around her. We can't really say she was a homebody, but she was proud of her homestead and worked hard to keep it neat and clean as a pin. She attended Kessington Community Church in Union, Michigan for a while until her health slowed her down a bit, but she was a tough old bird and simply found other ways to get things done.

In her free time, Jackie loved to play cards and dominoes, and once the kids turned her on to the game "Pogo" on the internet, there was no turning back. Always cheerful, always loving, Jackie just enjoyed people and would do anything she could to help someone in dire straits. She and her granddaughter Heather were quite a team as well, as her title as "caregiver" usually meant driving Jackie around to her appointments and errands and all the other adventures that made up her day.

All in all, Jackie was an amazing person. Industrious and enterprising, she will be best remembered for her ability to embrace and enjoy hard work and all of the good that came from her labors. "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of one's choice. Friends and relatives are encouraged to leave condolences and memories of Jacqueline by clicking "Tribute Wall" on her obituary page.