Greenfield girl, 89, crafts hundreds of pandemic masks to donate

Jackie Stebler pushes her walker among the rows of material. She’s in research of the perfect content.

When she finds what she requires, she locations it on the seat of the walker and retains going. Her daughter, Karen Culley, transfers the fabric sample to a purchasing cart.

Jackie is on a mission to make a lot more experience masks for individuals mainly because of the pandemic.

Right after an hour searching, she rolls up to the spot of the Joann material store in Cranberry wherever a woman actions and cuts the materials. She would make her way to the checkout counter and pulls out her checkbook.

“This is my candy retail outlet,” reported Stebler, of Greenfield, who will transform 90 in November. She reported she has manufactured extra than 1,000 deal with masks for loved ones, good friends and people in want.

“I am not surprised she is accomplishing this,” stated Kristine Stebler, a single of her other daughters. “My mom enjoys to assist.”

Stebler stated she does not feel what she is executing is anything at all special. She presents away the masks for free to people today she appreciates or through phrase of mouth.

“This is just me,” she mentioned. “I just want to do a thing to maintain persons secure.”

 

Stebler usually stays up until eventually 1 or 2 a.m. stitching. She has two sewing machines — 1 with white thread and an additional with black thread — in her do the job home and a table entire of material and spools of elastic. The masks are double layered.

She has material in rustic styles, leaves and pumpkins, witches and candy corn as effectively as Santa Claus, sweet canes and gingerbread adult men, and some others with cupcakes, tie-dye layouts, puppies and camouflage.

Stebler sent masks to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Allegheny County Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen. They recognized her very last 7 days at a information conference.

“I want to thank Jackie for this mask,” Fitzgerald stated. “Greenfield is a special spot for me, since it is wherever my wife grew up.”

Bogen reported Stebler, a former kitchen employee at the Greenfield Senior Centre, can be noticed handing out masks in her neighborhood and out when she outlets.

“Jackie, like community wellbeing officials across the globe, know face coverings will safeguard her and the types she enjoys from spreading the virus,” Bogen said. “We will have to all keep on to use confront coverings when we go out. The encounter coverings are a single of the vital tools we to have to gradual the distribute and to guard people today like Jackie.”

 

Stebler and her late spouse, Gerard, lived on the North Side and experienced seven children. She labored at Ross Eat’n Park for additional than two a long time.

In 2008, she moved in with her daughter Kristine in Greenfield.

She has 11 grandchildren, 17 excellent-grandchildren and a few terrific-excellent-grandchildren. She began producing masks for her relatives of 61. She saved making when she listened to other folks wanted them.

“She constantly explained to us to do matters for other individuals,” Kristine Stebler said. “She tactics what she preaches. She is tireless. She will keep up late to fill an get. “

Kristine Stebler’s twin, Korene Kegg, explained she and her siblings under no circumstances had to acquire Halloween costumes. Their mother often designed them.

“If I have fifty percent her electrical power at 90, I will be joyful,” explained Kegg, of Greenfield. “Most women of all ages give start, but my mother gave me a everyday living. Our mom dealt with us like every person else. If we could do some thing, then we did it. She assisted us be independent.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Critique staff writer. You can get hold of JoAnne at 724-853-5062, [email protected] or by means of Twitter .

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