Jeanne Elin Hackett

August 8, 1941 - September 15, 2019

Mrs. Jeanne Elin Hackett (nee Laws), age 78, of Schererville, Indiana, went to be with her Lord & Saviour on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Jeanne said, “I’ve really had a wonderful life. I had the best husband anyone could want. I had five beautiful children for whom I am so proud. I had the best job teaching children the love of music. What else could anyone want?” Jeanne’s parents were Edward Earnest Laws Jr & Jeannette Johnson Laws (predeceased). Jeanne was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the oldest of eight (8) children, followed by: Grace Williams (predeceased), Verna Summers (predeceased), Edward (Kay) Laws III, Paula Curran, Elaine McClurg, Geraldine Laws, Leslie Harvey. Additionally, through marriage, a second brother, Donald Hackett. Siblings from which there are a full group of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, who Jeanne thoroughly enjoyed watching grow. She had a deep abiding love for her parents, her dad for whom she assisted in household construction tasks (roofing and all) and her mother for whom she assisted as a stand-in mother to her seven (7) siblings. Clearly her dad developed her blood and heart made of steel, while her mother encouraged her abiding love of nurturing children. Jeanne’s favorite Bible verses that she clung to in her life, exemplified who she was and how she aspired to live. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Romans 12: 1 & 2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. At the age of 16, Jeanne went on a cruise, with a friend Judy Lightcap, who led her to the Lord that day. After which, the trajectory of her life moved forward in faith through God’s grace, with a focus how she could serve others, with love. She lived in a fashion that sheltered her from human poor behaviors. This enabled her to exude a brightness to everyone she touched, from the perspective of her beautiful heart that was pure of thought, to an innocence incapable of foresight into those who inflict harm. She truly was a savior, only seeing all possibility and goodness in every person she met. Joe & Jeanne Hackett were knit together for 58 years in a Music Filled Life of nurturing love and teaching service. The bond and strength of their love was a most beautiful story to watch. They met at Bob Jones University (in 1960) and would sit and enjoy each other’s company on the walkway benches, on which Whippoorwill’s would sit and sing. This bird whistle became the signal from Joe and Jeanne to their children, when in public, to rally us together. Joe asked Jeanne to marry him on their first date. She said “Sure”, as she was confidant he was kidding. On some dates, they would go to the snack shop and order a grilled cheese and split it. Within the last two weeks of her life, one dinner from the hospital included a grilled cheese sandwich. She picked up half the sandwich and asked Lori to “Please wrap this half and take it to Dad (Joe) and tell him to always remember and think of me”. Dad set aside his planned dinner that evening and ate his ½ of the grilled cheese sandwich. Little did she know on that first date, that this was the beginning of her happily ever after. They were married (in 1962) and birthed all five of their children in Greenville, South Carolina. Jeanne was delighted to witness the growth of her legacy, through three generations. She derived great pleasure spending time with her family. She was generous with her time, support and unconditional love for her family. Her 5 children, 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren gave her a great deal of pride. Beginning with Joseph (Theresa) Hackett III (Joey predeceased) with their children and grandchildren Jamie (Amie) Mathews and daughter Adriana Mathews, Jeremy (Alexis) Mathews, and sons Jack and Theodore Mathews, Gabriella (Jake) Plimack and Skylar Hackett. Second, Jeannette (Edward) Torres with son Vincent (Eve) Torres and their children Violet and Lucas Torres, and Chae Torres. Third, Lynne (Dan) Whelan with their children Jessi (John) Staff, and their daughter Kenzi Staff, and Chad and Kayla Whelan. Fourth, Joanna Barnett with children Joe (Zoey) McQueen, and his daughter Jaidyn, and Anson Coates, Yezen Al-Swaiti, Casey Barnett, and Hailey Barnett. Fifth, Jonathan Hackett with his children Jonathan, Jolee, Lola, and Lilly Hackett. Jeanne said to a couple of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, “Know that I will always be watching over you from Heaven. And if I get there and I’m unable to see you, I’m going to argue with God to insist he allow me to watch over each of you.” We say, “Mom, thank you for the sunrays throughout our lives and on your last day. We felt the warmth of your flight to Heaven.” They graduated (from Bob Jones University) together, Joe with a degree in Bible Theology, followed with a Master of Education (from Hyles-Anderson College), he become an ordained minister in March of 1974. Jeanne with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Practical Christian Teaching. They joined together in teaching at Hammond Baptist Schools; Joe in Junior High, teaching world history, Bible, art and band, later teaching art and working in the Activities Department at Hyles-Anderson College, and Jeanne in the Grade School teaching music for Kindergarten ages 4 through the 6th grade. Jeanne wrote many songs, some of which were incorporated in the 170 plays which she also wrote. She was an excellent seamstress developing costumes, many without aid of a pattern. She used this sewing talent to make clothes, many times that matched, for herself and her children. Joe is a great artist, freely sharing his work with Alumni from Hyles-Anderson College. They worked as a team in creating stage settings for the Music programs at the Grade School, later for the stage settings at Hyles-Anderson College in the Activities Department, as well as for the various First Baptist Church conferences. Let’s pause for a moment of accolade for the five worker bees they birthed, with whom the programs were achieved. They each taught school for Jeanne for 37 ½ years and Joe for 36 years. Jeanne using her violin, singing talent and creative writing in her work and Joe’s artistry and skill for learning to play every band instrument in order to teach students to play in the band. They also followed each other to teach Sunday School Bible lessons in the Junior 5 Department for 35 years. They also enjoyed singing duets at the school and church for services, weddings and funerals. They both received awards for years of service, educational service excellence, loyalty and faithfulness, Who’s Who Among American Teachers, and appropriately Joe received the Hylander Lion Award, as his beautiful Jeanne had the heart of a Lioness. Jeanne acted with fairness in student choice for class participation and program part assignments, that encouraged and uplifted those she recognized had extra needs; from simple shyness, poor self-image and/or a tough or deficient home life. She taught with excitement and exuberance to ensure all the children truly felt the power of song to uplift, exalt, sooth and embrace us through joyous times and during times of need. Joe followed suit with the same practice, exhibiting great patience and understanding with the Junior High age group, even to the extent of developing a wonderful repertoire of what we call “Junior High jokes and quips”, which he continues to religiously share. Note to self and others: “Watch what you say around him …” Jeanne had the stamina of a great Warrior, sometimes we said, “She’s simply a Beast” to which she would smile and then wryly smirk. She fought consistently from June 9 through to September 15, while suffering with co-morbidities. That second week of June after her heart attack and flash pulmonary edema, the doctors guided us to call in the family, stating there’s a strong chance she will not make it through the night, as she had multiple organ damage. We complied, but the next morning she was still with us. One Physician after another made statements along the lines of, (shock) “Oh! She’s still here?” (Admiration) “Oh she’s a fighter.” (Determination) “Great let’s keep working to help her.” And thanks to Jeanne (and our Lord and Savior) we were afforded the great gift of 3 ½ months of time with Jeanne sharing stories, love, dedicated support, kindness, compassion, and had the joy of nurturing her, etc.; many of the wonderful attributes she gave to others throughout her life. Were we surprised at her endurance? Not really… For example: One kindergarten graduation she was adjusting a stage prop with a razor knife, and accidently sliced her thigh open. The play was that night and she immediately took out her role of duct tape, taped her cut and declared she had to complete the program, after which she will go to the hospital for stitches, and that she did. As they say, “The show must go on”. She was the Queen of duct tape. She duct taped everything from program props, to home repair to personal cut repair,to auto repair. She took her car for an oil change once, and the service tech broke her hood latch. She’s a 60 plus year old lady, by herself pleading, “Please fix the latch, I can’t drive the car home if the hood won’t stay down.” The technician replied, we can’t help you, we don’t have parts or experience to fix this. Frustrated she walked to her glove box and got out a roll of duct tape and taped down her hood, so she could drive somewhere else for repair assistance. Additionally, sure as shooting, she had a great laugh within the last two weeks of her life when the radiology technician wheeled a portable x-ray machine into her room (to take an x-ray) and the x-ray slide panel basket was completely duct taped to the machine arm. It was a beautiful duct tape bonding moment. During her three months of illness, Mom continued with the heart of a lioness stating, “I want to continue Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapies every day, so I can regain strength to go home to take care of my husband.” With each setback, her bright spirit continued to be clearly visible in her beautiful eyes and expressions. Many visitors commented, “She looks so happy and beautiful, her color is great. She appears to be doing very well”. Her soul and her will were fiercely determined to be here to care for her husband, her family and for her continued service with the children in Blue Denim and Lace. Befitting, that was the group for whom her continued service was performed, leading in song and supporting creativity with the strength of denim, coupled with the softness, grace and the delicacy of lace. In her final days, Jeanne honored the quality of the love she had for Joe, even though she strongly needed and desired the strength of his presence, she requested we not allow him to witness her death, as she did not want him to experience the angst and pain that moment would create. She honored the value of love she had for her children by making personal care decisions after the doctors stated there was nothing more they could do to further improve, and/or save her life. In response, we say Jeanne, “It is our honor to have the privilege of calling you wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, friend, colleague, teammate, teacher, mentor, guide. Providing you with 3 ½ months of care, emotional support, encouragement, cleaning, feeding, lying next to you listening to you breathe, holding your hand through the night, singing and praying through your moments of pain and fear, supporting and caring for the love of your life, Joe, as you always have and as you wished to continue to do, is our pleasure.” And now that you’re safely in God’s loving arms, we will tell Joe what you lovingly said, “Na-nah, na-na-nah, I got to go to Heaven first. But that’s okay, Dear, I’ll get everything ready for when you come to join me there.” Nothing exceeds the all-encompassing love of our Mother. A viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Memory Lane Funeral Home, 6305 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30), Crown Point, Indiana. The funeral will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. An entombment service will follow at Memory Lane Memorial Park. Please contact the funeral home for more information (219) 322-2050. www.memorylanepark.com