Loretta E. Jewell

Loretta E. (Pelc) Jewell, age 66, after a 20-month battle with Pancreatic Cancer, Loretta departed this world to be with the Lord, Sunday, August 13, 2023. She passed while in the Hospice care in Greenville, Ohio.  She is survived by her Husband: Rev. Jeffrey D. Jewell of Eaton; Daughters: Heather Kaltenbacher of Los Angeles, California, and Katie (Ryan) Hay of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky; Granddaughters: Kayla Ramierez and Faith Ramierez of San Bernadino, California, Grandsons: Henry Hay and Logan Hay of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky; Sister: Celeste Walton of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; two cousins and a niece and nephew.  She is a member of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Eaton.

Loretta began life in Pulman (Chicago) Illinois.  At ten years old, the family moved to Glenwood Illinois.  She began Violin in the Homewood-Flossmoor School system.  She excelled in academics and in playing the violin.  In High School, she played in four orchestras including the Chicago Heights Youth Symphony Orchestra.  As a co-concert mistress, she played the Mozart Violin Concerto #1 while the H-F High School Orchestra toured in Toronto Ontario.

After a year of college in San Antonio, Texas, Loretta was married and had her first child.  She worked over fifteen years as a full charge bookkeeper in various companies in San Antonio.  Her second marriage produced her second daughter, also in San Antonio.

Loretta was fluent in French and began to learn American Sign Language.  The family moved to Louisville, Kentucky and she went back to college in her late forties and earned her degree in Sign Language Interpreting.  For eleven years she worked as an Interpreter in Manual High School in Louisville.  While interpreting in the High School, she earned her National Certification for Interpreters of the Deaf.  She also began a specialty of interpreting medical appointments.  She was an avid interpreter of deaf culture to the hearing community.

Her third, and final, marriage to Rev. Jewell took her to Ohio.  She learned much as a Methodist Pastor’s wife.  As a cradle Catholic, there was no example for her to follow.  She, however, adapted well.  She was unemployed in their first appointment of Hicksville after suffering a broken shoulder.  In Commercial Point, then New Holland, and finally Jeffersonville, Loretta interpreted in greater Columbus and surrounding counties, all medical appointments.  She was even requested by some of the deaf.

Loretta was an excellent cook and baker in addition to her previously mentioned talents.  Her family loved her Poticas at Christmastime.  She loves the Lord and is beloved by those who knew her.  She is sorely missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Friday, August 18, 2023 at Visitation of BVM Church, 407 East Main Street, Eaton, Ohio with Father David Doseck officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 P.M. in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Oxford, Ohio on Friday. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. at the church.

Arrangements Entrusted to Barnes Funeral Home, 220 East Main Street, Eaton, Ohio.