Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 28, 2025.
Jacqueline (Jackie) Vada DeFord Poradek, of
St. Paul, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on July 3, 2025, at the age of 90, with her loving family by her side. Jackie's life was defined by her devotion to family and friends, her faith in God, and her belief in the inherent goodness of people. Jackie was born with her twin brother Jack at home in Ramona, Indiana, on January 24, 1935, to Ray Henry DeFord and Truly Blanche (Turner) DeFord. Jackie grew up on a family farm in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana, near where her father worked as a stonecutter in the Indiana quarries famous for the limestone used to build monuments across the United States. Jackie's first job was to care for the animals on the family farm, including a pet pig named Betzi that she dressed up in hats and wheeled around in a little wagon. After graduating from Spencer High School in 1953, where she wrote for the school paper and excelled in English, spelling, and penmanship, Jackie received a full scholarship to Indiana Central Business College. She moved to downtown Indianapolis to begin her first career as the secretary for a senior executive at Indiana National Bank. It was in Indianapolis that Jackie fell in love with a dashing, well-dressed resident of the Regis Apartments, James Robert Poradek, who she met by chance when they were both bringing their trash to the hallway chute in the apartment building. After a whirlwind courtship that included picnics on the rooftop of the Regis, Jackie married Jim on an unusually warm winter day on December 2, 1961 at the Catholic church across the street. Over the next twenty-five years, Jackie raised her two children in loving homes in Indianapolis and New Jersey, and then in the 1980s went back to school to become a licensed practical nurse. As a nurse, Jackie worked with doctors and patients in challenging infectious disease settings, where became known for her empathy and compassion in treating early AIDS patients. When Jackie and Jim retired in the late 1990s, they built a new house in Owen County, near where Jackie grew up, with a large front porch that was regularly visited by hummingbirds. Finally, Jim and Jackie moved to
St. Paul, Minnesota in the early 2000s to be close to their grandchildren. Jackie was devoutly religious throughout her life, with a dedication to social justice issues in her later years. She became a friend and confidant of parish and academic clergy because of her thoughtful engagement with difficult theological issues. Jackie was a gifted conversationalist, talented writer, and avid reader, with a lifelong passion for movies that she passed on to her children. Jackie is survived by her children Jim Poradek (wife Katharine), Maria Emerson (husband William), grandchildren Will Poradek, Katelyn Emerson, Miranda Poradek, great-granddaughter Isa Wilson, and many friends and extended family members. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, her twin brother Jack DeFord, and her older brothers and sisters Roberta Hall, Vestal DeFord, Drexel DeFord, and Juanita Stines. A memorial service will happen on September 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Lumen Christi Catholic Community in
St. Paul, Minnesota. Burial will follow in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, next to her beloved husband Jim. The family invites memorial contributions to support special needs children through Virtua Health's Pediatric Early Intervention Program, which may be made online at
GiveToVirtua.org or mailed to Virtua Health Foundation, 303 Lippincott Drive, 4th Floor, Marlton, NJ 08053.