Jacquelyn Gochá's Obituary
Jacquie was born on October 15, 1966 in Biloxi, Mississippi, to Airman First Class Bell Steward and Georgia Mae Steward. Jacqui was the 4th child in her family of 5 children. Jacquie was youngest child and youngest daughter until 1976 when her baby brother Brian was born.
As the 4ht child in an Air Force family that included 3 brothers and a sister, Jacquie was privileged to have lived all over the world and spent her childhood and teenage years residing in places such as Germany, Florida, Chicago, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and the Philippines, just to name a few.
Throughout these travels Jacquie met many people and formed a lot of friendships. However, she and her sister Angela formed a very special bond with three young ladies that have lasted for 30 years. The five women (affectionately known as Furious 5) Laverne (Sylvester) Carter: aka Cocoa; Johnnita (Isom) McAdo: aka Dimples; Tasha Young-Cisse: aka Lady T; Jacquie's sister, Angie Steward-Randall: aka Precious; and herself, Jacquie (Steward) Gochá: aka Hazel Eyes, have remained best friends ever since. Jacquie enjoyed every minute spent with them and loved them all deeply.
Jacquie graduated from Ramstein High School (Ramstein Air Force Base), Germany in 1984. Following High School she enlisted in the United States Army where she served 3 years. She was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, where her daughter Simmonia was born. A short time later, Jacquie would be stationed at Ft. Camp Casey located in Korea and later moved to Germany. While stationed in Germany she met her best friend and the love of her life in the form of Cliff Gochá, her future husband. After a long courtship, cliff proposed to Jacquie. They were married on September 19, 1991. From this marriage, a son Julian and daughter Chanel were born. Jacquie retired from the Army and decided to pursue her education. She attended college and eventually went on to study at Dental Hygienist School. While cliff remained in the military, she had spent the past 24 years raising her family (in the same fashion as she was raised), working for various military and civilian hospitals (wherever the family was stationed at the time). Jacquie took great pride in her family and her work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Above all, family was the ultimate expression of love and joy for Jacquie. And next to God, there was no greater joy than spending time with her family. Jacquie looked forward to Family Friday Night Pizza Parties and weekend watching movies with the family, and Sunday morning breakfasts. But as the kids grew older, the family Friday night movies turned into Friday Date Nights with Cliff, where they would spend quality time at the drive-in, time at home, or going to dinner with friends. Jacquie truly loved going out to eat. But simply put, family is what Jacquie valued most; her love for family was unremitting and unconditional; and through her 3 cherished children, her life was further enriched with the addition of 2 gorgeous granddaughters Jordynn and Julianna; as long as family was involved, Jacquie considered it a special occasion and time for celebration.
Jacquie was first diagnosed with her illness just over 4 years ago; she was told she only had 16 months of life. From the very beginning she had a wealth of support from her friends and family. She was always strong in confessing her belief for healing and walking in faith. The outpouring of prayers and support she received from everyone was tremendous. Clearly, God could not have placed better people in her life during the entire process. She loved her friends, co-workers, and all the staff at Madigan Hospital, and she had nothing but complete confidence in the Physicians and Medical teams involved in her treatment.
While Jacquie did not have a specific church home, she was confirmed in the Catholic faith, and had a personal relationship with God. Beyond her beautiful smile and joyful exterior was a Spiritual woman with deep belief in her faith. Jacquie would spend hours on the phone with her favorite sister-in-law, Dawn, talking about faith and family. However, knowing that her time in the physical world was nearing an end, with her brother Deuce at her side on April 10, 2012, she opened her beautiful hazel eyes, flashed a big bright smile and she openly and willingly re-confirmed her commitment and dedication of her life to Christ, proudly proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and her personal Savior. She didn't need to do it; she just wanted to do this as a comforting re-assurance and parting gift to her family.
Jacquie was our strength at times because she never complained to family, just her husband Cliff. She remained positive and maintained a joyful spirit right up until God called her home.
In the last few days of her life, Jacquie spent all of her time in the comfort of her home with her loving family, a few dear and faithful friends, and Miko (her loyal Golden Retriever). When Jacquie and the Lord had everyone and everything covered (everyone giving permission for her to let go and be with the father in Heaven) and with only her husband Cliff at her side, Jacquie went to be with her Father God and Big Brother, Jesus.
Jacquie lived a very full 45 year life and was universally loved by all who had the good fortune to come into contact with her. She had a big smile and an even larger heart. It was a privilege and honor God allowed us to be a part of His daughter's life. We all believed in the manifestation of healing and Jacquie did receive it -" and so did her family, healing from the inside out, instead of the outside in.
-Å"Death leaves heartache no one but God can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal.-
Jacquelyn Theresa Gochá, age 45, of DuPont, Washington is survived and remembered by her best friend and the love of her life, Cliff (husband); children Simmonia, Julian, and Chanel; parents Georgia and Lewis Steward; mother-in-law, Nyee M. Gochá; brothers, Michael -Å"Duece- (Dawn), Andre, and Brian; sister, Angela (James); nieces, Marisha and LaQuita; nephews, James Andrew, Colin, Sebastian, R.J., Casey Cox, and Emani; granddaughters Joydynn and Juliana; and many, many friends, extended family, and loved ones.
Thanks for all the loving memories, Jacquie. Love always.
Goodnight Jacquie.
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