Carolyn J. Jaqua

Carolyn Jean Jaqua, age 94 years, 10 months, passed away on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Bowling Green, Ohio.

She was born July 19, 1930, on Filmore Street, Napoleon, Ohio, to Harold F. Sauber and Ora (Strine) Sauber. She had one sibling, a brother, Richard F. Sauber.

She attended St. Augustine's during her grade school years and later graduated from Napoleon High School, Class of 1948. In 1950, she married one of her classmates, Roger Jaqua, who passed away in 2024. Carolyn may be the last member of her class of 1948.

Carolyn's father, Harold, and her uncle Marion worked on Filmore Street at the Napoleon Products Co. Sometimes there and at home, she would help other girls sort various screw machine products made there during the war years. Her father would drop a nickel in with a box of parts to be kept if she found it.

In high school, she was fond of her German classes. After the war years, the class made pen pals from Germany and Austria. The students would send them friendly letters and sometimes chocolate or a small item of clothing.

Carolyn's pen pal for many years was Eveline Smejkal. She later met Eveline on a trip to Germany and Austria nearly 40 years later.

As a girl growing up in napoleon, she spent much time with other classmates and often was privileged to serve as an assistant to a well-known M.D., Dr. Quinn. She helped with many treatments, including injuries.

In the early 1950s, her father was able to buy a 40-acre farm south of Liberty Center. Carolyn enjoyed life on a small farm and the chores there became a pleasure to her. With no sister or daughter, she had to be a tough bird to keep five boys in line.

Carolyn planted gardens, prepared countless fine meals, cleaned and ironed clothes, and even shine shoes for the young boys. The family lived there until 1970.

Later Carolyn went on to earn a LPN degree (1975) from Schoolcraft College, Livonia, Michigan. This led to her working for many years as a caregiver at various nursing homes and hospitals in Ohio, New York and Michigan.

She was a volunteer at soup kitchens and helped adults and children learn to read. Lastly, she enjoyed volunteering at the Napoleon humane Society. Carolyn, and her husband Roger, spent some retirement years in Florida and later Mathis, Texas before returning to Napoleon in 2006.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Roger; and son, Mark.

She is survived by her four sons, Phillip, Paul and Thomas, all of Northwest Ohio, and Timothy, of Vermont.

May Carolyn be in eternal comfort and fellowship with the Lord Jesus.

Her ashes will be interred at Grelton Cemetery next to her husband.