Jacqueline Marie Hunter

Jacqueline Marie Hunter (Barszcz), lovingly known as Jackie, was born January 7, 1946, to her parents Hattie and Leonard. The Lord called Jackie home early morning, Sunday September 13th, 2026.

Jackie built a beautiful life centered around hard work, family, friendship, faith, and love. She was a woman of elegance and class who had a remarkable gift for making everyone around her feel welcomed.

As a mother, Jackie adored her children fiercely and loved nothing more than attending their dance recitals, school events, baseball, and football games. She especially enjoyed their Birthday and Holiday celebrations.

In her younger adult years, Jackie successfully owned and operated a hair salon with her mom. Clients often remarked her attention to detail was only slightly outweighed by her kindness and quick wit. Later, she followed another passion and operated a daycare. Jackie loved babies and had a special way of nurturing and caring for little ones. One of her favorite rituals was bath time, followed by cuddling the babies as they drifted off to sleep. Her tenderness and patience left a lasting impression on the many children she cared for.

Jackie was a wonderful cook. Her stuffed peppers, golumpki, and homemade soups were family favorites and part of the comfort and love she so naturally brought into her home. Food was one of the ways Jackie cared for people, and there was always something special being prepared for those she loved.

She had a wonderful sense of humor and filled rooms with laughter. Jackie liked music, weddings, dancing, and any occasion that gave her an opportunity to celebrate life with the people she loved. She had a particular appreciation for beautiful surroundings, good food, good company, and the simple joy of being together.

During her early retirement years, Jackie lived in Florida where she embraced adventure to the fullest. She loved to take cruises with friends, socialize, discover new restaurants, and host family gatherings at her home. Jackie also enjoyed many boating weekends with her grandkids, and the memories made exploring the magic at Disney parks will forever be cherished by her family.

When Jackie returned to Michigan, she spent her days designing and creating a beautiful home, cooking, hosting shopping trips and play dates with her grandchildren, and she cherished weekly lunch dates with her lifelong friends. Her home was a reflection of her—warm, welcoming, beautiful, and always ready to receive someone she loved.

Her final move brought her to North Carolina, where she was blessed to spend precious time with her children and her youngest grandson, Theodore. It was there that Jackie was diagnosed with mesothelioma and began a courageous battle with cancer. Throughout her many months of treatment, Jackie met each challenge with the same strength and fighting spirit that had carried her throughout her life.The family is eternally grateful to the UNC team of doctors, nurses, and aides, who cared for her. Their dedication and compassion gave Jackie and her family comfort and support during an incredibly difficult time.

The Lord met Jackie’s fighting spirit with grace, giving her precious additional months to make special memories with her family and to welcome her second great-grandson Bo, into this earthly world. Just as the Lord watched over Jackie with strength and grace through the many months of her treatment, He gave her strength and grace in her final days, welcoming her home to heaven to be reunified with her loving parents, her sisters Delphine and Joan, her son-in-law Christian, and her grandchildren Jason and Marissa.Jackie is survived by her four loving children: Robert, Robyn (grandson Tylor, granddaughter Brittany and great-granddaughter Chrislynn), Lisa (husband James, grandson Brendan, grandson Evan; wife Kristina, great-grandsons Waylon and Bo, and Scott (wife Marissa, grandson Theodore).Jackie’s family will forever cherish the love and lasting memories she gave them. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. She loved deeply, laughed freely, and made the lives of those around her more beautiful simply by being in them.

Jackie will return to Guardian Angel Cemetery in Michigan as her final earthly resting place. Family and friends will gather for a celebration luncheon at her favorite pizza restaurant, The Alibi, on a date to be announced.If you wish to memorialize Jackie, donations in her honor can be made to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC, give.unc.edu/tribute/Jhunter or stjude.org.

Her earthly journey is complete. Her love remains. And she is finally home.