Alice Jacobs

Obituary of Alice Tressa Jacobs

JACOBS, Alice "Sally" Tressa (Hubley) Age 91 of Halifax. It is with great sadness but much gratitude for a life well-lived that the family of Sally Jacobs announces her passing on February 19, 2025 at Northwood Care in Halifax.
  The eldest daughter of ten children born to the late Douglas and Mary (Wills) Hubley, Sally was a Spryfield girl. She was born in 1933 in a house built by her grandfather on Philip Street in Halifax and then moved at an early age with her family to a house built by her father on Dentith Road in Spryfield, just outside the city.
  As a youngster she showed entrepreneurial spirit selling small household items around the neighbourhood that she ordered from a mail-order catalogue; also blueberries that she handpicked. Playing with her siblings and local children in the Hubley front yard and at Wagner's Pond and Kidston's Lake, Sally became an able swimmer, skater and baseball player, going on to play in a women's softball league at the Halifax Commons.
 Throughout her life she was a loving elder sister, almost a second mother, to her siblings, teaching, supporting and mentoring them as they grew and matured. Although she loved school, she left before graduating to enter the workforce so she could help financially at home. She worked at Moir's Candy factory in downtown Halifax and while still a teenager became a supervisor of hard candy packing on her floor.
In 1953 at age 20 she married the love of her life, David Jacobs, an American sailor she met through her father who, after meeting and talking with David outside his workplace, brought the young man home for supper. They moved to Vermont where their first three children were born and she worked part-time to help pay medical bills and buy a house. In 1964 they returned to Spryfield where they welcomed their fourth child and Sally worked part-time at her brother Bruce's store, Doug's Old Style Meat Market on Dentith Road.
After getting her GED she became a monitor, with a sister, sister-in-law and friend, at Halifax West High School. They were known as the monitoring mothers and called "Mum" by the students who, long after graduation, expressed appreciation to Sally for her firm but fair treatment.
  Sally had a strong work ethic and was fair to a fault. She was devoted to her family and her faith community at St. Paul's United Church in Spryfield, where she often read during worship. A life member of the United Church Women, in which she held various leadership roles, she made jams, pickles, baked goods and knitted garments for church suppers and fundraisers, as well as for her family. She was a good cook and excellent baker, and without lessons, could sew and knit almost anything.
  Sally enjoyed the company of children, singing with family and friends, reading the daily newspaper at home or in whatever place she was traveling, gardening and sharing her produce with others, maintaining friendships she made throughout her life. She was down-to-earth and outgoing, a strict disciplinarian with her children as well as a trusted confidante and staunch supporter of whatever endeavour they chose in life.
  Married for 70 years, Sally and David were a loving couple, singing together at home and on their many road trips, sharing craft projects, gardening at home and at Toney River, where for many years they enjoyed a network of cottage friendships. They volunteered at local nursing homes. When new people appeared at church they were invariably brought back to Sally and David's for lunch. Through the years family and friends would come to them for advice or to share a sorrow or celebration. Back in the day (when doors were not locked), Sally kept a basket of apples in the cold front porch on Lewis Street for local children to go in and help themselves if they were hungry; she provided food for neighbours in need.
 As they grew older Sally and David were considered surrogate grandparents by young relatives, friends and neighbourhood children who often presented them with framed photos of themselves for placement among family photos.
  Sadly, in her later years Sally developed dementia. She was lovingly cared for by David, still singing together until his illness and death in the fall of 2023. Her care was then provided by family members until she entered Northwood. Her family extends gratitude to Northwood staff for their kindness and professional support, and to Dr. Hugh Matheson of Spryfield Medical Clinic for his loving care of both Sally and David through the years.
  Sally is survived and lovingly remembered by her children, Helene Burns (Gary) of West Pennant, Brian Jacobs (Patsy) of Halifax, Bruce Jacobs (Jackie Peltz) of Winnipeg, and Heather Bissonnette (Anthony) of Lr. Sackville; grandchildren, Bruce Burns (Yuhui Yu) and Daniel Burns (Laura Peek) of Halifax, Samuel Jacobs (Danielle Proutt), CJ Jacobs (Andrew Wiebe), and Noah Penner of Winnipeg, David Bissonnette (Émilie), and Anna Bissonnette of Lr. Sackville; great-grandchildren, Sophia and Faye; sisters, Helen McKay (James), Margaret Baker, Mary Brind'Amour, and Beatrice Delong (Murray); brothers, Frank Hubley and Gordon Hubley (Carol); sister-in-law, Bonnie Drake (Phil); and their families. Besides her parents and husband, Sally was predeceased by brothers, Bruce Hubley, Cyril Hubley, and Patrick Hubley; sisters-in-law, Thelma Hubley and Velma Hubley; brothers-in-law, Thomas Baker and John Brind'Amour.
   Arrangements and cremation have been entrusted to J. Albert Walker Funeral Home, 149 Herring Cove Road, Halifax.  A visitation with Sally's family will be at J. Albert Walker Funeral Home, Halifax from 6-8 pm on Thursday, February 27th, 2025. Her life will be celebrated at a service at St. Paul's United Church, Spryfield at 2 pm on Friday, February 28th, 2025. A private family interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Sally's memory may be made to St. Paul's United Church, 173 Old Sambro Rd, Halifax, NS B3R 2H6.