Jacqueline Ann (Scott) Economos, 77, of Worcester died peacefully Wednesday, January 2nd in UMass Memorial Medical Center – Memorial Campus with family by her side. Her husband of 43 years, Stephen G. Economos died in 2007. She leaves a son, George S. Economos and his wife, Rachel of Worcester; a daughter, Christina D. Economos and her husband, Barry Pailet of Concord MA; a sister, Marilyn J. Kelley of Cummaquid, MA; five grandchildren, Stephen, Nicholas, and Melina Economos and Luke and Alexis Pailet, and many nieces and nephews including Elizabeth Kelley and Mark Kelley. She was predeceased by a brother, Cameron Scott and a brother in law, Edward Kelley. She was the Daughter of Archibald and Marion Scott and grew up in Tatnuck square of Worcester where she returned to raise her own family.
She was born in Worcester and graduated from the former High School of Commerce. Jacqueline (“Jackie”) worked for the Worcester Public Schools as a special education instructional assistant for 11 years, retiring in 2004 from Mill Swan School. She was a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral; its choir, the Ladies Philoptochos Society and the Daughters of Penelope. She was a devoted mother who volunteered her time to numerous organizations including youth baseball and softball, swimming, dance, Girls Scouts and youth activities at St. Spyridon. She enjoyed spending time in her beautiful and extensive gardens, cooking, knitting, sewing, crafting, raising kittens (including her beloved cat “Koukla”) and watching movies. Her home was the destination for all the neighborhood children where she planned events to raise money for charity, July 4th celebrations, and regular weekend cookouts. For over 50 years she has belonged to a “Club” with friends she grew up which still meets to this day. She spent many years volunteering at Foothills Theatre and in her younger years with the PTA at her children’s schools. She never missed sending gifts and decorating for a holiday, birthday or celebratory event. Her favorite pastimes were spending time with her grandchildren, as their “Yia yia”, watching countless baseball and softball games, visiting Cape Cod (which was like a second home), and sharing plants from her gardens. She often reminisced about her first car, a VW bug, which she purchased for herself in 1960 and took on many adventures. We will all miss her kind spirit, thoughtfulness, and genuine love for family and friends. Being with Jackie was a reminder that relationships and spending time with family and friends is what matters most in life.
Calling hours are Sunday, January 6th from 3:00 until 6:00 PM in O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA. Funeral services and burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen G. and Jacqueline A. Economos Scholar-Athlete Fund at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation to support young women from Worcester in attending college at www.greaterworcester.org or 370 Main Street, Suite 650 Worcester, MA 01608-1738.