Plattsburgh, NY - Jackie Pernice Sabourin died at home, surrounded by her loving family. A celebration of her life will be held at the Peru Free Library on Saturday, August 15th, from 2 to 4 p.m. Please stop by to remember Jackie with her family and friends.

Jackie was born in Waltham, Mass., to a military family and luckily for the North Country, the family found themselves stationed in the newly opened Plattsburgh Air Force Base in the 1950's.

After a family move to Westchester, Jackie graduated from Yorktown HS in 1965 but came back to Plattsburgh for college where she had a class with Jack Sabourin, the older brother of Richard "Dick" Sabourin. Jackie learned that Dick was away in the Marines and she said to Jack, "tell him I said hi". That "hi" ended up being the start of a 57-year relationship. Jackie and Dick were married on June 6th, 1970.

After graduating with an art degree in 1971, Jackie began teaching at NCCS and a few years later, welcomed her children, Livia in 1974 and Ben and Sarah in 1977. When Jackie was ready to get back to teaching, there were no jobs available, so she enrolled in the Nursing Program at CCC. Jackie's career as a nurse was in the ER at CVPH. Soon an art job opened at the Peru School District, and that was when her 20-year Peru teaching career began. In true Jackie fashion, she continued nursing on the weekends and school vacations.

In the late 1980s, Jackie began experiencing health issues and was diagnosed with NF2, which caused numerous noncancerous brain tumors. She faced the diagnosis with courage, always saying yes to treatment opportunities. Over the years, she underwent multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy treatments both locally and in Boston.

When Jackie retired from teaching and nursing, she kept herself very busy which included serving on the Peru Free Library Board for 25 years. She helped start the Art Bank on Brinkerhoff Street which became the Strand Center for the Arts. With fellow ceramists, she formed the North Country Potters Guild and brought endless arts to the area, including Raku firing events to many area schools from Salmon River to Keene Valley and all points in-between. While looking out into the beautiful fields that she and her family called home, Jackie created the Stoneledge Sculpture Garden, open for the public to enjoy, featuring artwork from many local artists as well as graduating students from SUNY Plattsburgh Arts Program.

Jackie also shared her love of art in retirement homes, where she made pottery with adults; in elementary classrooms, where she brought ceramics to schools without access; and through mentoring art teachers across the North Country. She believed everyone deserved a piece of handmade art and was known for "selling" her own pottery for almost nothing. She never wanted anyone's inability to pay to keep them from having a piece of art to call their own.

Jackie is survived by her husband, Richard; her children, Livia Sabourin, Sarah Goldberg (Jacob), and Ben Sabourin (Salome); her beloved grandchildren, Delilah and Dylan; her loving sisters, Sharron McKinney, Cathy Vhr (Aldo), and June Pernice Kowalczyk (Ted); her sister-in-law and dear friend, Diane Sabourin; her many wonderful nieces and nephews, and incredible friends from every chapter of her life, from high school through her final years. Jackie loved meeting people, learning their stories, and celebrating life with them.

Acts of service were part of Jackie's DNA, if you would like to honor her memory, her family requests that you consider doing something kind for your community and hold her in your thoughts. If you would like to donate in her memory - please consider the Peru Free Library.