Jacqueline Natalie Gabow

Jacqueline Natalie Gabow, born on May 5th, 1966, in Highland Park, MI to the late Ann Marie Gabow and her beloved father Ronald Florek, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025. She was the cherished Soulmate of Dave Zidar. Beloved and Devoted Mother of 4; Anthony (Traci) Gabow, Alfonzo Eggleston III (Kimberly Borkowski), Arica Eggleston, and Andrew Gabow (Hannah Robbins) and Loved Stepmom to Ryan and Anthony Zidar. Jackie was the proud Grandmother of 4; Amelia Gabow, Audrey Gabow, Kameron Gabow, and Michaela Eggleston. Cherished Sister to James (Melissa) Gabow, and Joseph Gabow. Jackie was the Dear Aunt to 4: Ashley Fraser (Steven), Jeremy Gabow, Abigail Gabow, and Isabella Gabow. Lastly, she was the Great Aunt of Silas, Weston, and Addalyn Fraser. Jackie will be remembered most for the kind spirited and loving person everyone knew and loved. She was the definition of Mother; doing anything and everything for her kids first. She was willing to do anything that would provide for her family, whether it was becoming a truck driver or a waitress, and she was an amazing waitress because she was the best at taking care of people. She gave care to those who deserved it most, in her personal life or if it was a requisite of her job. She took care of people like nothing you could ever imagine. That’s why when they asked us to sum up what she did for a living, what her occupation was, it took a second, but then it became easy to summarize her life’s work as a caregiver. She was the best caregiver there ever was, as she learned what mattered most from the women in her life. If you knew Jackie, you knew that she LOVED her children and devoted her entire being to making sure that they were put first in her life. A condition of her love was understanding that her kids did little wrong and that she was willing to go to the end of the earth and back for them. That spirit and veracity was at the forefront of all her relationships. If you were good with Jackie, you knew it and she would provide a depth of loyalty like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Jackie was a mother first at the young age of 17, she was made a mother 7 and 8 years later and did it again at 32. The love she showed to her friends and family is everything that the world needs right now, she was truly 1 of 1. Her enjoyment of entertainment was something she shared with the people closest to her. Whether it was being at a concert with Dave, watching Anthony play baseball, in the building for one of Alfonzo’s basketball games, enjoying a Broadway musical and watching oldies on TV Land/Nick at Night with her daughter Arica, watching the Steve Wilkos show, cops, and Prank Videos with Andrew, attending a Dave Chappelle stand-up comedy special by herself, or screaming from the stands for all of her grandchildren’s sporting events; she loved to be entertained. When print magazines were a thing, she loved to read celebrity gossip magazines, so TMZ TV was right up her alley. Jackie knew all the celebrity news and enjoyed being able to tell you first about it. She loved going to the movies or the drive-ins and she loved reality TV the most; COPS, America’s Dumbest Criminals, Big Brother, Survivor, Amazing Race to Jersey Shore and so much more! Above all this, it was the sharing in those moments with the people she loved most that brought so much joy and meaning to her life. Jackie was the range of emotions you wished you were and at times you wished you weren’t. She was fierce and willing to take on the world for the ones she loved. Never afraid to take on the opposition in moment’s notice. In scary situations, she didn’t flinch and was never afraid to take on something tough for the ones around her, and she always came out on top, and that’s what most will remember of her. She was a fighter and fought through it all to the very end. Jackie fought her way through life, battle after battle and fought battles for others when they couldn’t fight for themselves. Helping her son fight cancer, supporting another who struggled with a form of hemophilia, while teaching her daughter to be all the things she desperately was or tried to be… A good person, a great friend, a loving partner, an amazing daughter, an awesome aunt, the best sister, but more than anything THE BEST mother for the children, she did her very best to raise. She tried her very hardest to show her children right from wrong so that nobody else had to worry about her children as they got older and left the house for good. Her youngest son is a glaring example of all her kindness she taught, even in her toughest battles. That is something all parents should strive for, and she did it every day. Among all those things, she was an amazing grandmother forging memories so that her Grandkids would remember her, she loved every second she got to spend with her newest Granddaughter, Michaela. Jackie was someone that everyone, at some point in her life, could count on. She was emotional and she didn’t hide it, or she didn’t hide it very well. You knew you did it right when you heard her share an awe, or she spoke to you in her baby voice. If you gave her a birthday card, it better be the sappy, sad one with a few Kleenexes because you knew the waterworks were just a part of the package and that Hallmark card better have the date on it with a personal note inside of it too. As good as Hallmark was at making cards, your personal touch on the other side is what meant more to her than what was printed on the right side. She cherished every card, note, or picture she was given. Her presence will be deeply missed, but her legacy of love and kindness will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her. In lieu of flowers any contribution is greatly considered. The family plans to support Gift of Life with a donation on her behalf, by way of additional resources towards, not only the contribution that was provided by Jackie when she passed. Being a donor was something that she was very proud of and the family is so proud of her courage and grace, by donating part of herself to their amazing cause. The family of Jackie Gabow would like to invite everyone to Rogers Roost for a luncheon to further celebrate Jackie’s life. This will be happening after (the chapel ceremony at resurrection) from 1pm-3pm. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025 from 3-8pm with a Rosary starting at 7pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48312). Funeral Mass will be held on Monday 10am at St. Raymond Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church (20103 Joann Ave, Detroit, MI 48205). Interment to take place at Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Township, MI. Please share memories with the family at their online guestbook @ WujekCalcaterra.com

Jacqueline Natalie Gabow

May 5, 1966 - January 26, 2025