Jacqueline Eleanor Skrmetta

Jacqueline E. Skrmetta passed away peacefully on June 21st, 2023, at the age of 85, surrounded by her husband, sons and immediate family. Jackie was a lifelong resident of Biloxi and a 1955 graduate of Sacred Heart Girl’s High School. She was a member of Nativity BVM Catholic Church, the same church where she married the love of her life Peter M. Skrmetta (Captain Pete) 68 years ago.

If you knew Jackie, you know that she was an extremely loving, kind, and beautiful person, with a renowned personality. She owned and operated Jackie’s Souviners and Shells on Hwy. 90 in Mississippi City for fifteen years. She was raised in a home where the second language spoken was Croatian. Jacqueline had fond childhood memories of how her maternal grandmother, Bevica Sekul Beaorvich, would host regular family gatherings with Croatian aunts and uncles at her parent’s Biloxi home on Forrest Ave. She was the only child of Louis E. Wentzell Sr., and Eleanor Beaorvich. Jackie was quick with a smile and always made you feel like a part of her family. At her home for over fifty years on Iroquois Street, you could always find her in the kitchen cooking for Captain Pete and her four sons, and anyone else that happened to stop by to enjoy her warmth, wicked sense of humor, and delicious cooking. She had an incredible singing voice, and instilled the love of music in her children. Jackie loved children and they loved her. She was adored by her four sons, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her dearly.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents; second child, Peter Matthew Skrmetta Jr.; and grandson, Peter Joseph Skrmetta. Survivors include her husband, Peter M. Skrmetta Sr.; her sons, Louis and wife, Tina, Steven and wife, Michelle, and Kenneth and wife, Crystal; her seven grandchildren, Jacqueline (Reed) Davis, Robert (Dr. Hannah Gwin) Skrmetta, John Skrmetta, Timothy Skrmetta, Luke Skrmetta, Kadin (Maridane) Snow and Kaitlynn (Nathan) Claret; and two great grandchildren, Christian and Juliet Davis.

The family would like to give a special heartfelt thanks to Aimee Borland and Becky Leger for the loving care provided to Jackie in her final days.

Private services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made in Jacqueline’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jacqueline E. Skrmetta.