OBITUARY: Longtime Melbourne Resident Jacqueline Joan Illingworth, 94, Passes Away Dec. 11
By Space Coast Daily // December 17, 2019
Jackie and husband Herb lived in the Melbourne area for 27 years
At age 20, Jackie enlisted into the U.S. Navy and sang with the Navy Band and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Jacqueline Joan Illingworth passed away Dec. 11, 2019, shortly before her 95th birthday. She was born in New York City and grew up in Holbrook, Long Island.
Jackie and husband Herb lived in the Melbourne area for 27 years prior to moving to Jacksonville Florida in 2003.
Jackie is survived by her children, whom she adored, Susan Illingworth (Sandy) of Jacksonville, and sons Thom of NC and Scott of IA. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Muriel Schiavoni, (Indialantic, FL). Jackie was pre-deceased by her infant son from a former marriage, Robert Paul Constant; her husband Herb Illingworth; and brother Alexander Schiavoni of Indialantic.
Jackie loved singing and was voted “most popular” girl at Sayville High School, class of 1942. As a teenager, she was a contributing reporter for 3 Long Island newspapers. After graduation, Jackie became a secretary at Columbia University and worked on the Manhattan Project during WWII.
At age 20, she enlisted into the US Navy and sang with the Navy Band and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra as they entertained servicemembers. After WWII, Jackie enrolled as a voice major at the New York College of Music. At 25, Jackie met the love of her life, Herbert W. Illingworth. They were married for 56 years.
Jackie worked as an executive secretary at various universities. Throughout her life, Jackie would sing and perform in church choirs, operettas, symphonies, and little theatre performances.
Jackie’s lovely soprano voice and her dramatic ability found her in leading roles in local venues to include the Melbourne Civic Theatre, Surfside Players, Cocoa Dinner Theatre and the Brevard Community Orchestra Singers. Jackie performed solos in churches over the years.
Jackie was a member of the Space Coast Unit 75 of Waves National in Melbourne where she enjoyed many friendships with other women veterans. Jackie will be missed but not forgotten.
May she be free to sing with the angels and laugh with her husband Herb again. A memorial service will be held in Jacksonville in Jan. 2020, CLICK HERE for more information.
Final arrangements have been entrusted to Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, Jacksonville.
To honor Jackie’s love of singing, and for those so inclined, in lieu of flowers, she requested donations be made in her name to the Bridges of Harmony Chorus, PO Box 2302, Jacksonville FL 32203.
