Jacqueline A. Pritchard, lovingly known by many as Grandma Jackie, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Chambersburg Hospital. She was 75 years old. A proud native of Elmira, New York, and most recently a resident of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Jackie was a woman whose life touched many and whose presence will never be forgotten.
Born on May 3, 1949, in Elmira, she was the beloved daughter of the late Lauren C. and Marybelle (Comfort) Pritchard. A proud graduate of Southside High School, she was an active member of both the Girls Athletic Association (G.A.A.) and the Future Secretaries Association (F.S.A.), early signs of the poised, determined, and capable woman she would become.
Jackie went on to serve as a dedicated Secretary with the Elmira City School District. Her professionalism, calm spirit, and kindness left a lasting impact on colleagues and students alike. She was a pillar of support in both her work and her personal life, always reliable and quietly strong.
She had a creative soul and a competitive edge. She cherished playing Monopoly with her family, crocheting thoughtful gifts, painting with joy, and building new friendships wherever she went. Though she lived in Chambersburg for only a short time, she quickly became a beloved presence at the local Senior Center, bringing warmth, laughter, and grace into every room she entered.
But to truly know Jackie was to know her heart. She was more than a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend - she was a gentle force of nature. Her strength was wrapped in kindness, her faith was unwavering, and her love left a permanent mark on everyone she encountered.
She lived with grace and quiet dignity. Whether offering a comforting word, a warm embrace, or a whispered prayer when no one else knew what to say - Jackie always showed up with heart. Her strength wasn’t loud. It was steady, present, and wrapped in service to others. She was the anchor of her family - a calm in the storm, a builder of bridges, a keeper of traditions, and a wellspring of wisdom.
She believed in doing what was right, even when no one was watching. She believed in people, even when they doubted themselves. And she believed in love - not just as a feeling, but as a legacy to be lived.
Jackie’s memory lives not only in stories and photographs but in the small, daily acts of kindness she inspired: a shared laugh, a helping hand, a faith-filled heart. We honor her today and every day - by loving a little harder, helping a little more, and living with the kind of quiet strength she carried so effortlessly.
She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Dr. Vern W. Wood III (Tammy) and Timothy E. Wood (Georgia); her grandchildren Lisa, Ryan, Anthony “Tony,” Lexus, Eva, and Kayla; her step-grandchildren; and her many great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren who brought endless joy to her later years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her precious granddaughter Vicki, and her beloved sisters Sharon, Lauren, and Mary.