Greenfield Community Awards Dinner to recognize 91-year-old mask maker, other dedicated residents

They call her the “face mask lady.”

When Jacqueline Stebler meets people in the grocery store, at doctor’s offices, the beauty shop, riding on the Access bus, and shopping at the fabric store and the wine and spirits stores, she reaches in her pocket and hands them a face mask.

And not just any face mask.

One she’s made.

She has sewn 3,800 of them.

And she’s still at it.

“I really like to sew,” said Stebler, of Greenfield, who turned 91 on Tuesday. “I’ve been sewing most of my life.”

Stebler, known by everyone as “Jackie,” began making masks since the spring of 2020.

Stebler will be recognized for her dedication to making face coverings at the 35th annual Greenfield Community Awards Dinner on Saturday night. This year’s event will be held in the social hall of St. Rosalia Church in Greenfield.

It is sponsored by Greenfield Organized Against Drugs.

“We missed out last year, so we definitely wanted to do it this year,” said Jim Gregg, of Greenfield, a member of the planning committee. “We have so many incredible people in Greenfield.”

Stebler will receive the Special Recognition award, as will Greenfield resident Theresa Hassett, and Greenfield’s Finest Podcast.

There are 13 award categories, including Greenfield Person of the Year to Kristi Heidel.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review

Jacqueline “Jackie” Stebler, 91, of Greenfield looks through bolts of material at Jo-Ann Fabrics & Craft in Cranberry. She will use the fabric for face masks she makes.

Greenfield’s Finest Podcast is a weekly conversation about sports, news and other happenings among Mike Zydel, Jack Welsh, Anthony Sciulli and John Rosato, four guys who grew up in Greenfield. They’ve donated weekly meals to residents of the Greenfield senior high-rise.

Hassett has made more than 1,000 face masks. She owns a business, My Wocave, where she sews custom quilts and makes stuffed animals fashioned from a loved one’s clothing.

She said what Stebler is doing is amazing.

“At her age and everything she has dealt with in her life, to be taking care of other people by making masks is wonderful,” Hassett said. “This is Jackie’s night.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review

Jacqueline “Jackie” Stebler, 91, of Greenfield (middle front) made all of the face masks her daughters (from left) Korene Kegg, Karen Culley and Kristine Stebler are wearing. Korene Kegg’s English Labrador assistance dog, Windy, keeps watch over the women.

Stebler’s children nominated her. Her mask repertoire consists of red-white-and-blue designs, Halloween, Easter, Christmas, snow men. Some even have glitter.

The Steelers mask is requested most often.

Stebler used money from her government stimulus check to buy materials.

“My mom has always done so much for so many people,” said Stebler’s daughter, Karen Culley, who lives near Slippery Rock. “I can remember as a kid there always being extra people in the house.

“She would invite kids to play — and tell them to bring their parents for dinner. She would slice the bread a little thinner to accommodate more guests. Everyone is family to my mother.”

Stebler’s bedroom immediately became a workshop. Most days, she’s sewing until 1 a.m.

In high school, she sewed shirts for soldiers fighting in World War II.

“They say good things come in small packages,” Culley said. “My mom isn’t even 5-feet (tall), but her heart is the size of Texas.”

Another of Stebler’s daughters, Korene Kegg of Greenfield, said her mom could probably make a mask in her sleep.

“I say not only did she give birth to me, she also gave me life,” Kegg said. “She is part of the strongest generation.”

Another daughter, Kristine Stebler, remembered when her mother received the letter informing her of the award. Her mother was so “overwhelmed with the honor” that she was trembling.

Stebler had seven children with her late husband, Gerry, whom she married in 1948. He died in 2003 and their oldest son, Kenneth, died in 2010. She is a grandmother of 11, a great-grandmother of 17 and a great-great-grandmother of three.

“We have watched our mom tirelessly make masks for months and she shows no signs of slowing down,” Kristine said. “We are proud of her efforts, but know that this is just who she is.”

Courtesy of Michael Bartley

From left: State Sen. Jay Costa, Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor, event organizer Jim Gregg and emcee Michael Bartley at a previous Greenfield Community Awards Dinner.

Greenfield resident Michael Bartley has emceed the dinner for 20 years.

“It is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Bartley, a longtime broadcaster. “It honors people who work so diligently for no money to help a neighbor and to make sure a neighbor is welcome. That is what we do here in Greenfield. We take care of each other.”