Penny died on May 19 at the age of 87, surrounded by family and by the love of many. The guiding principles of her life were family and helping others, and she was easily recognized by her smile and her comforting, enfolding hugs.

Born in Nashville, TN, Penny also lived in Virginia, Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Illinois. She earned a BA in journalism from the University of South Carolina and went to work shortly afterwards for the Social Security Administration in Florida. She met Jim, her husband of 62 years, when she moved back to SC to live with her parents and save for a trip to Europe. Those funds ended up contributing to building a house after Penny and Jim married in 1963 and moved the next year to Amarillo TX.

All three children were born in Amarillo before the family moved to Lake Jackson TX in 1970 for the next 40 years. Penny was a stay-at-home mom who devoted herself to family, church, and volunteer work.

She gave her time to many organizations, including as a respite worker for Visiting Nurses Association hospice, a tutor and president of her local chapter of Literacy Volunteers of America, leader for her children’s Girl Scout and Cub Scout groups, room mother for many school classes, and leader in numerous groups at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church such as Altar Guild, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and a host of committees. She also worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block, a bookkeeper for a local graphics business, an assistant in the newspaper library of The Brazosport Facts, and a substitute teacher for the Brazosport Independent School District.

She joked that she should put Mom’s Taxi on her car because of all the trips she made to ballet, piano, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, church youth activities, viola and clarinet lessons, orchestra and band practice, summer camp, and other activities. Penny was also a reluctant but dedicated seamstress of costumes for Halloween, ballet performances, Christmas pageants, and Easter clothes.

When not serving others, Penny enjoyed bridge, photography, puzzles, and Friday dates with her beloved Jim in Houston. She also enjoyed visiting family and enjoying nature in travels around the country. In 2010, she had a new base for exploration when she and Jim moved to the Chicago area to be closer to family.

She is survived by husband Jim Jacobsen, daughters Kristin Jacobsen (Allan Shampine) and Lise Jacobsen, granddaughters Fiona Shampine and Maeve Shampine, and nieces and nephews Elaine Disney (Dennis), Eric Jacobsen (Crystal), Carol Imperial (Archie), Kelly Frontroth (Brion), Kenneth Brooks, Kay Bowen Kramer (Randy), Steve Sinclair (Jeanine), Sharon Peery, Laura Sinclair, and Brian (Elfriede) Sinclair. She was preceded in death by son Mark Jacobsen, parents Muriel and Kenneth Sinclair, and siblings Bruce Sinclair and Dee Dee Brooks.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 2 pm at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 815 Wilmot Road, Deerfield.