John M. "Jackie" Rose, of Lake Ariel, celebrated his 70th birthday on Easter Sunday and passed away at Geisinger Community Medical Center PCU floor on April 20, 2023 under Allied Hospice of Geisinger, after a brief illness. We were so blessed to have him in our lives for this length of time.
Jackie was born in Scranton on April 9, 1953, to the late John M. and Trudy (Mangan) Rose. Jackie has lived with his sister Barbara for the past 17 years since his mother passed away.
He was the Easter Seal Child by the Lackawanna County Society for Crippled Children and Adults at 4 years old when he was in leg braces. He was a day client of ARC of Lackawanna County for over 20 years and received Consumer of the Year award in 2007. He was also chosen for the United Way poster when he wrote his name for the first time.
Jackie was a gentle and loving person who had a great big smile for everyone he met and loved to get and give hugs. His gifts of love and laughter will be in our memories forever. He loved all holidays and believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny. He collected and played with Matchbox cars his whole life and never had enough trucks or trains. He enjoyed drawing cars, trucks, trains and holiday theme pictures with colorful crayons. Jackie couldn't wait until the next holiday or birthday to gather with his family and get Matchbox gifts. Some of his favorite things were hot dogs, ice cream cake, anything chocolate, MeTV runs of all cowboy episodes, the Walton's, and polka party on Saturday nights.
He loved animals and his faithful dog Shepp was his companion to venture out for a walk downtown and stop at the Globe Store restaurant for a coffee, when he was younger and adventuresome. On the way home he would stop at the Hobby Center and try to buy a truck or car for a dollar or two. The Sweeney family was always wonderful to him.
The family would like to express its deepest appreciation to the doctors and nurses in PCU for the excellent and compassionate care provided. The family would also like to thank the many other doctors, nurses, case workers, companions and friends who touched his life.
Jackie is survived by his caretaker and sister, Barbara; niece, Felicia Serine and husband, Damon, Mount Cobb; nephew, Chad deQuevedo and wife, Dawn, Olyphant; brother, Thomas Rose; niece, Izabella; nephews, Thomas Jr., Johnny, Dominic, Dylan, Justin, Scranton; sister, Susan Walsh and husband, Teddy, Ohio; nieces, Christina and husband, David Behne, Georgia; Katie Bennett and husband, Bradley, Michigan; nephews, Ted and wife, Christy, Ohio; Eric and wife, Amanda, Ohio; sister, Kathy Fox; niece, Leah Gledhill; sister, Caroline; nieces, Brittney Lee and husband, Donnie; and Emily Baldacci, all of Scranton.
Jackie is also survived by great-nephews and nieces he loved so much, DJ, Casey, Kyle Serine; Mallory, Callum deQuevedo; Thomas III, Aspyn Rose; A.J., Sophia Behne; Aiden, Adalynn, Austin Bennett; Penelope, Violet, Oliver, Walsh; Charlotte, Henry Walsh; Donnie, Olivia Lee; Mason Baldacci, Grayson Martin; and many cousins including Dick Mangan, and Karen Powers.
He was also preceded in death by grandparents, Richard K. and Catherine Griffiths Mangan; Thomas and Etta Hunt Rose; a brother, John; sisters, Nancy and Kathy; special aunts, Kay Fox, Jeanne Kramer; and uncle, Richard K. Mangan Jr.
The funeral will be Friday with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Parish at Nativity of Our Lord Church, 633 Orchard St. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. Friends and family may call from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church. The family will be wearing bright colors to support Jackie's love of life and color.
Arrangements, Neil W. Regan Funeral Home Inc.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jackie's memory may be made to ARC of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 115 Meadow Ave., Scranton, PA 18505, or at thearcnepa.org.