Jacqueline "Jacky" Elizabeth (McArdle) Stromple

Jacqueline "Jacky" Elizabeth (McArdle) Stromple departed this life on April 23, 2022, at the age of 84, peacefully, surrounded by her wonderfully charming, ridiculously good-looking, hilariously funny, smart-ass children of hers. Jacky, also affectionately known as "Jack-a-lantern (not sure she liked that one)," "Mom," "Grandma," "MeMops," "J-Stromp," and "JACK!" had the grace and beauty of Jackie Kennedy and the mouth of Richard Pryor, thus the distinction of being known as the "Queen of the F-Bomb!" Her story began on March 29, 1938 in Jamaica, New York. She was the middle child of the late Jack and Marie (Dwyer) McArdle. She reveled in being the supportive younger sister to her older brother, the late Donald P. McArdle, and the adored older sister to her younger brother, Lyn P. McArdle. Both brothers, according to Jacky, but not confirmed by either, attributed most of their success to her "sisterness." After NY, Jacky's family moved to Pittsburgh, which she proudly called home for the rest of her life. Brookline was her first stop where she claims she "ran things" and graduated without honors, but had a great time, at St. Justin's High School. Her biggest regret during her time there was not being named "Miss Brookline; a wound that was kept open and fresh when her son, Timothy P. Marshall, married the former Colleen McPeak, a 1978 "Miss Brookline" winner. Just one of many ways Timothy P. lovingly annoyed his mother over the decades. She then moved around the South Hills with stays in Bethel Park (where she raised her children), Greentree, and Mt. Lebanon. Jacky's greatest joy was her 3 children: Kevin Marshall (Jennifer), Kristen Napoleon (Jim), and Timothy Marshall (Colleen); but was a second mother to so many of her kids' friends who would eat her out of house and home when they were teenagers; regardless of whether or not any of Jacky's 3 kids were at home at the time. There are not enough words to describe the love she had for her 11 grandchildren: Keely, Liam, and Fiona Marshall; Riley, Jamey, Brady, Jake and Hunter Napoleon; and Ryan, Grace, and Sean Marshall. She took such pleasure in all of their adventures and the time she spent with them. She loved all of her pets throughout her life, from Dixie, Duchess and Blitz to her many "grandpets." In recent months, it was the small birds who came to eat at her window that brought her joy. She was passionate about sewing and weaving a tapestry of 4-letter words into her daily life. While she didn't invent the "traffic finger," she did perfect it. She also imparted many life lessons to her three kids such as: "just be grateful it's not your ass and you don't have to sit on it" (when one of her children got injured – let's say a skinned knee) Other sayings included "don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out" (when she was tired of your presence); and "someday I am going to help you find your real mother because there is NO WAY you came from me" (when annoyed by said child.) She is legendary in Bethel Park High School folklore for the "excuse" she wrote for one of Timothy's absences that read as follows, "Please excuse Tim from being absent – his ass fell off." While Tim needed the excuse to avoid detention, he was given two days detention for turning in such a note. Fiercely protective of her children, Jacky would stand up to angry adults who would take exception to her children throwing snowballs (or tomatoes) at their cars. Without skipping a beat, she would (like a mama grizzly bear) challenge them with "no one beats my kids but me." Jacky took great pleasure in cooking for her children; making specialty dishes that would haunt them for years: chop suey, stew, and pork roast. One of the greatest fears her children had was coming home from school and seeing the crockpot simmering. With an amazing 6th sense, she had the ability to tell when her kids had parties as teenagers because she would notice that the house was cleaner upon her arrival back from a trip. However, it could have also been the stain of champagne on the ceiling. She also loved Oreo Cookies (double-stuff), chocolate milkshakes, M&M's, an Oxford Comma, irreverent and inappropriate humor, and fart jokes. She had a lively smile and it was beyond fun to make her laugh. In fact, her kids and grandchildren competed to see who could make her laugh the most and would try to get her to choose as to who her favorite child/grandchild was. An ardent fan of the Pittsburgh sports teams - Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, she was instrumental in her children's love of sports and encouraged that passion throughout her life -- attending her last Pirates game in the Fall and finally getting a foul ball! Jacky's educational story did not end with her short stint at Carlow College in the 1950's. In 1990 she completed her 4-year degree at Carlow and became one of their oldest graduates. After she proudly accepted her degree, her entire family was asked to leave the theater for wreaking so much havoc when her name was called -- another Carlow record. She was fortunate enough to celebrate her 84th birthday just a few weeks ago with much of her family and a chocolate milkshake. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and was a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the daughters of Erin and the Fa Gau Wee Irish tribe -- a close-knit exclusive Irish women's club that raised money to send arms to Ireland to help liberate her beloved ancestral home. While Gerry Adams, Bono, and Michael Collins get most of the press, Jacky was a prominent figure (her words not ours) in the background during the fight to reunify Ireland. Also preceding Jacky in death were her husband, Bill Stromple, older brother Donald and his wife, Beverly (Garbark) McArdle. She is survived by her children, their spouses, all the grandchildren, her brother Lyn (Jackie) McArdle and roughly 10,000 nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews (too many to mention when this obituary is costing us by the letter) and many loving friends! Jacky may be gone, but she will never be forgotten. Never. Ever. Go n-éirí an bóthar leat chun bualadh leat, Mom! (May the road rise up to meet you!) A big thank you to the wonderful staff at Asbury Villas in Mt. Lebanon and to Commonwealth Hospice who helped us navigate Jacky's final journey. In lieu of flowers, and because so many women that Jacky loved are survivors, continue to fight, or who have been lost, please donate to Susan B. Komen (Team MVS, Edie Yeager) in memory of Jennifer Humeston Anderson. Additionally, please donate to the Gary Sinise Foundation in support of veterans. Family and Friends welcome Thursday, 3-8 WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE (412-563-2800), 1650 Greentree Rd., Scott Twp. 15220. Funeral Mass Friday 10:00 am St. Bernard Church, St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Burial Private to the family. www.slaterfuneral.com