Anne Jacobs, 80, formerly of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Oct. 21, 2014, in Aurora, Colo. Funeral services were held Oct. 23 at Feldman Mortuary followed by burial in Emanuel Cemetery, both in Denver.
{mprestriction ids="1"}Anne was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 8, 1934, to Leonard and Rose (Kaminowitz) Wacholder, attended public school there and was a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Upon graduation, she attended Brooklyn College where she graduated with a B.A. in political science in 1955. While there, she met the love of her life, Howard Jacobs, and they were married on Aug. 21, 1955.
After 10 years in Brooklyn, Howard, Anne and their two children moved to Jackson, N.J., where Anne was a homemaker and Howard worked for Revlon in Edison, N.J. Howard and Anne found their love for theater while residing there, actively involved in the Jackson Community Players and involving their children in those productions.
In the spring of 1972, with their three children in tow, they set off for a new life in Lakewood, Colo. There, Anne took on several new challenges including learning to drive and beginning to work. She worked as a customer service representative for several insurance companies. Howard and Anne again became involved in theater with the Golden Thespians, but the focus of their lives became planning and leading many sessions for Jewish Marriage Encounter. Their marriage was indeed special, and set an example of how couples should treat and communicate with each other.
Anne’s life changed forever with Howie’s sudden death on Nov. 3, 1985, shortly after their 30th wedding anniversary. Anne continued working, raising her teenage son, and began making frequent trips to Kansas City to visit first one, then a second granddaughter.
In September of 1995, Anne suffered a stroke which left her with decreased mobility on her right side. She overcame many challenges after this and continued living on her own and driving with an adapted vehicle. In January 1997, Anne moved to Kansas City, Mo., to be near her daughter’s family. During this phase of her life, Anne actively participated in the lives of her granddaughters. She also became a volunteer at Congregation Beth Torah, and later served as a member of the board of directors. Beth Torah opened up new opportunities for learning, an increased sense of spirituality and socialization. She loved Lunch with the Rabbi, Yiddish Class, her chavurah and even helped establish a grief support group utilizing a program she wrote. She also became a presenter for the American Stroke Association.
She spent the last five years of her life back in Denver living in Allied Jewish Apartments and, later, Shalom Park, to be near her sons, daughter-in-law and two more grandchildren.
Anne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and a sister, Frieda Lambert. She is survived by her daughter Laura (Boyd) Bolter; two sons, Alan of Denver and Michael (Kristin) of Lakewood, Colo.; and four grandchildren: Hannah (Dann) Michelson, Rachel Bolter, Colin Jacobs and Allison Jacobs.
Anne was known to be kind, generous, compassionate, selfless, thoughtful, respectful, authentic, sincere, adventurous at heart, whip smart and overflowing with dignity.
Donations may be made to Shalom Cares, 14800 E. Belleview Dr., Aurora, CO 80015 or to a fund of your choice at Congregation Beth Torah.{/mprestriction}