LAST WORDS ABOUT ANDREA'S LIFE
Andrea Marie Jackson was born on April 25, 1949 in Tokyo, Japan into a military family. Her parents lived in Philadelphia prior to her father joining the Army in the latter part of WWII. Andrea was baptized at the Russian Orthodox Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Tokyo on June 4, 1949 by H.E. Archbishop Benjamin Basalyga. They left Japan in 1950 and moved to Coatesville, PA.
In September of 1956 during her father's assignment to service in Germany, they relocated to Kaiserslautern. Andrea had many interesting memories and some good stories of living and playing in the Black Forest. During their time there the family toured to some interesting places such as Lourdes, France and the Alps in Switzerland.
In 1959, after serving in Germany and Korea, her father was reassigned to service in Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. While in El Paso, Andrea became a naturalized American citizen in 1964.
Ken had served two tours in Vietnam before he was assigned to Ft. Bliss in 1968. That is where he met Andrea at a little pizza restaurant that she managed. He thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever laid eyes on, and he fell in love with her. Eventually, she fell in love with him. When his stint in the Army, was complete, she moved to California with him. They married in January of 1969.
Years later as they were discussing their shared past, she informed Ken that "At first, I didn't care much for you." When he asked her why she fell in love with him anyway she said, "You grow on a person." Andrea and Ken remained married for 53 years until her passing on September 16, 2022.
All who knew Andrea knew how she adored her children and grandchildren. She loved to laugh and be a little silly with them now and then. Her grandchildren loved that about her. Andrea had many friends. She was loved by her co-workers at Troy High School in Fullerton, CA where she worked for 25 years. She was a loving and compassionate wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend.
To say that Andrea was a "dog person" is an understatement. She was raised with dogs as a child and after her marriage she was never without at least one dog in her life. She has left her three 'rescues' in Ken's care. Rosie, Maggie, and Coco are testament to her love of dogs.
Andrea was preceded in death by her father, Command Sergeant Major Andrew Machristie, mother Anna, brother John, and brother Andrew (Debra).
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth, son Brian Jackson, MD (Shawna), daughter Tracy Wackerman (Rod), brother Larry (Patricia), and eight wonderful grandchildren: Megan, Anna, Nina, Dylan, Paul, John, Vera, Mark, and many nieces and nephews.
Special mention must be made of Andrea's beloved friend from childhood, Virginia Pogasic (Mike) of Michigan with whom she kept in touch from the time they met until she was no longer able to communicate.
Andrea will be sorely missed by all of us.