Obituary for Josette Tackx
In lieu of flowers, please donate to No Kill Colorado at https://www.every.org/nokillcolorado, an animal welfare organization she supported since inception in 2011.
Josette Tackx was born Nelly Josette Tackx on August 25, 1933 in La Chappelle Gauthier, France. On the evening of January 5, 2022, Josette passed away at home peacefully of natural causes.
Josette was known for her incredible sense of fashion. People remarked on her beauty and style long into her later years as she always presented herself with style and grace.
She never lost her French accent although she was a stickler for spelling, in any language. She is suspected of keeping that accent just to charm people.
But of course, she was French and we know that from her magical command of cooking. She learned to cook with her Grandfather who was a chef in Europe. Her Quiche Lorraine, Crème Brulee, and Chocolate Mousse are arguably the best in the world. But she would cook a wide range of cuisines. For the family on Sundays when all the kids were younger, monstrous spreads of various dishes that left no one hungry were prepared.
She was someone that loved all animals and her cats Paris and Jolie were her great joy in her final years. But if she could have adopted a bear, she would have. She had a thing for bears.
The daughter of Lydia Cart and Richard Tackx, Josette grew up in occupied France during WWII. Family legend has it that she was liberated on her birthday.
As she hid under her bed on August 25, 1945, retreating forces fought from her home and gave her chocolate for her birthday. As they retreated and American force took the property her house was on, they too gave her chocolate for her birthday. She always said this was a good day and that the German chocolate was superior to that shared by the Americans.
After the war she move to Fontainebleau where she worked for the US Army and met Jerry Smith, a US soldier in the 82nd Airborne.
They married and moved to the US in 1954. Josette’s first job in the US was in NYC for a fashion magazine. She later became a nurse and pursued that career for decades. She worked in several medical units in NJ including St. Mary’s, Christ Hospital, Palisades General and Pascack Valley. After her retirement she continued to create garments for family and friends using her seamstress and needlework skills. She especially enjoyed knitting for new babies.
Josette was predeceased by her son, Gerald Smith.
Josette is survived by her children, Doreen Smith, Bryan Smith, and Davyd Smith; her grandchildren, Bryan Jr., Jonathan, and Michael; her great-granddaughter, Braelyn, and her brother, Martial Tackx.
Private Cremation.
Josette Tackx was born Nelly Josette Tackx on August 25, 1933 in La Chappelle Gauthier, France. On the evening of January 5, 2022, Josette passed away at home peacefully of natural causes.
Josette was known for her incredible sense of fashion. People remarked on her beauty and style long into her later years as she always presented herself with style and grace.
She never lost her French accent although she was a stickler for spelling, in any language. She is suspected of keeping that accent just to charm people.
But of course, she was French and we know that from her magical command of cooking. She learned to cook with her Grandfather who was a chef in Europe. Her Quiche Lorraine, Crème Brulee, and Chocolate Mousse are arguably the best in the world. But she would cook a wide range of cuisines. For the family on Sundays when all the kids were younger, monstrous spreads of various dishes that left no one hungry were prepared.
She was someone that loved all animals and her cats Paris and Jolie were her great joy in her final years. But if she could have adopted a bear, she would have. She had a thing for bears.
The daughter of Lydia Cart and Richard Tackx, Josette grew up in occupied France during WWII. Family legend has it that she was liberated on her birthday.
As she hid under her bed on August 25, 1945, retreating forces fought from her home and gave her chocolate for her birthday. As they retreated and American force took the property her house was on, they too gave her chocolate for her birthday. She always said this was a good day and that the German chocolate was superior to that shared by the Americans.
After the war she move to Fontainebleau where she worked for the US Army and met Jerry Smith, a US soldier in the 82nd Airborne.
They married and moved to the US in 1954. Josette’s first job in the US was in NYC for a fashion magazine. She later became a nurse and pursued that career for decades. She worked in several medical units in NJ including St. Mary’s, Christ Hospital, Palisades General and Pascack Valley. After her retirement she continued to create garments for family and friends using her seamstress and needlework skills. She especially enjoyed knitting for new babies.
Josette was predeceased by her son, Gerald Smith.
Josette is survived by her children, Doreen Smith, Bryan Smith, and Davyd Smith; her grandchildren, Bryan Jr., Jonathan, and Michael; her great-granddaughter, Braelyn, and her brother, Martial Tackx.
Private Cremation.