RENA JACOBELLI

May 8, 1923 - Oct. 3, 2020

On October 3, 2020 Rena Gloria Jacobelli died peacefully at Las Fuentas assisted living facility, in Prescott AZ.

Rena was born May 8, 1923 in Heber California, the sixth daughter of Teodoro Felice and Lucia Maria Niboli, affectionally known as Lucy and Felix, who immigrated from Italy. She graduated from Rockwood Elementary School and then Central High School in 1940.

Rena met Amadeo John (Jake) Jacobelli at St. Mary’s Church in El Centro while Jake was training at Camp Seeley with the 11th Calvary Division in 1940 shortly before World War II. They were married July 3, 1942 at St. Mary’s Church in El Centro, CA. Their first child: Terry, was born at Fort Reno, Oklahoma in 1943, Lucia, El Centro in 1945, Dennis, Kyoto Japan in 1953, Gail, Fort Knox Kentucky in 1954, and Ronald, in El Centro in 1960. Jake and Rena lived in Belgium, in occupied Germany and Japan shortly after World War II and in numerous military bases throughout the United States.

In 1956 Jake retired from the military, and they moved to El Centro, to be close to Rena’s family. Throughout her life Rena was active in her community. She was a member of St. Mary’s Sodality, the Italian Catholic Federation, Imperial Valley Republican Women and helped sew the habits of the sisters that staffed St. Mary’s School. Jake and Rena left the valley and moved to Valley Center CA, in 1976 and later moved to Lawrence Welk Village in Escondido CA. After the death of Jake in 2013 Rena moved to Las Fuentes in Prescott AZ where her daughter Lucia and son Ron live.

The accomplishments of Rena can be summed up in the family she raised: 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 26 great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years; her son Maj. Terry Allen retired; parents Felix and Lucia, and her five sisters: Carmen, Lena, Polly, Violet and Sandy.

The legacy that she left like so many of her generation was, faith, family, and marriage. Her life was one of sacrifice, selflessness and love. She was a faithful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother. She is survived by her children: Lucia (Michael) Murphy, Dennis (Leslie) Jacobelli, Gail Fitzpatrick and Ron (Janne) Jacobelli; 14 grandchildren, Leigh, Macrae, MacKenzie, Regina, Jessica, Jamie, Dominic, Jennifer, Leslie- Anne, Ryan, Kellie, Alexander, John and Sarah and 26 great- grandchildren, Kaitlin, Lauren, Jack, Robby, Walker, Riley, Macey, Macall, Marley, Macgraw, Margaret, Cecilia, Luke, Dominic, Patrick, Benjamin, Jonah, Micah, Thomas John, Chloe, Brian, Ernie, Barrett, Jack, Rena, Rocco.

Services will be held at St. Thomas The Apostle Church in Phoenix at 10 a.m. Rosary and eulogy will be followed by the Mass of The Resurrection celebrated by Fr. Steven Kunkel. A reception will immediately follow the mass at Aunt Chilada’s Restaurant, 7330 N Dreamy Draw Dr. Phoenix. Burial will be at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego CA., next to her husband Jake, at a later date.

If you plan on attending the funeral and/or reception, please contact Dennis Jacobelli (760- 3522292) and leave a message on the answering machine.