Elizabeth " Betty or Liz" (Racich) Jacobs

Elizabeth “Betty” or “Liz” (Racich) Jacobs, 92, passed away peacefully December 17, 2025, at Kobacker House in Columbus after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born Elizabeth Rose Racich July 11, 1933, in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Thomas J. and Mary A. (Yurkovich) Racich she was known as “Betty” early in her life but preferred to be called “Liz” starting sometime in middle age.

She was a graduate of East High School in Youngstown where she was a cheerleader and voted “Most Athletic Girl” in her class.

She married her high school sweetheart, William (Bill) E. Jacobs, Jr., with whom she raised three children. They were married for 37 years prior to his death in 1991.

Liz went back to school after having three children and earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Youngstown State University.

After graduating she began her career as a registered nurse at North Side Hospital in Youngstown and later retired there as a Patient Admissions Coordinator.

Liz was a former member of the Youngstown Country Club and former member of St. Charles Church in Boardman and St. Michael Church in Canfield.

As a former member of the Ohio Cultural Alliance, she engaged her interest in learning about the heritage and culture of her family, friends and the people of the Mahoning Valley.

Liz enjoyed ballroom dancing, and competed in several amateur competitions, receiving multiple first place trophies and was a talented craft maker, home decorator and Garden Club member.

She was a wonderful cook and baker, and she loved to entertain family and friends at home.

Liz enjoyed traveling, nature and being outdoors, golfing, following the financial markets, exercise, including resistance and cardiovascular training and yoga, the performing arts, museums, playing cards, word and number puzzles and movies.

Liz was a lover of music and the arts and learned to play piano and read music later in life.

She was very engaged throughout her life in nurturing and developing her spirituality and faith and enjoyed studying the subject, and was a health and wellness enthusiast, becoming knowledgeable about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise well before the topic became mainstream.

A loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, she was known as friendly, outgoing, positive, exceedingly kind, compassionate and generous, energetic, hardworking, strong, talented, and successful, and she will be very deeply missed.

Liz is survived by daughter Dawn (Shaun) King, sons Bill (Becky) Jacobs and Jim Jacobs, grandsons Collin and Josh Jacobs and Shane and Liam King, granddaughter Shealee King and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husbands William (Bill) E. Jacobs, Jr. and Glenn H. Rudolph, loving companion Donald (Don) E. Peters, parents Thomas J. and Mary A. Racich, sisters Mary Ellen Baber and Christina M. Heydle and brother Thomas (Tom) P. Racich.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday January 5, 2026, at the Fox Funeral Home 4700 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday January 6, 2026, at St. Michael Parish 300 N. Broad St., Canfield, OH. 44406, celebrated by Rev. John-Michael Lavelle.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests donations be made in Liz’s memory to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (34 Washington Street Suite 230 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; Http://www.curealz.org; 781-237-3800) or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation (FDR Station, P.O. Box 220 New York NY 10150-0220; Http://www.alzinfo.org; 1-800-259-4636).

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St. Boardman.

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