Jacqueline Margaretta Reilly

Jacqueline Margaretta Reilly, 74, from Akron, Ohio went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer on July 10, 2025.

She was born on October 31, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Joseph Bernard Reilly and mother Dorothy Roll Reilly. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Reilly McDonald (Frank), nieces, Heather McDonald Habura and Dorothy McDonald Saltis (Heath), great nieces, Kate Taylor Saltis, Hayley June Saltis and great nephew Jonathan Michael Habura.

She was proceeded in death by her sister Marylou Reilly Freeman.

Jacqueline was a small-town girl who moved from Akron, Ohio to New York City at the age of 23 to pursue her love of performing. She had a dream of singing on Broadway and made that dream come true. She was a graduate of Copley High School (class of 1968) and received her BA in Theater and Music, graduating Cum Laude from Kent State University. She also attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Many people know her from her work performing in the “Cats” National 3 and 4 Tours. She performed opposite Tommy Smothers in the show “I Love My Wife,” which was the first National Tour with the Smothers Brothers. She played Magnolia in “Showboat,” Nellie in “South Pacific,” both Laury and Ado Annie in “Oklahoma,” Agnis in “I Do! I Do!,” Jenny Lind in “Barnum,” and even sang at the Ford’s Theater in front of Congress! Her favorite roles to play were Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls” and Jellylorum, The Operatic Cat in Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Broadway show “Cats.”

Jacqueline was a devout Catholic who loved the Lord. She was an inspiration to everyone by pursuing her dreams and never giving up. She was loved by her family and friends, and will never be forgotten. Her legacy will live on through her beautiful God-given voice that she shared with the world.

There will be a Mass of the Christian Burial on WEDNESDAY, July 16, 2025 at St. Hilary Catholic Church in Fairlawn, Ohio, 2750 W. Market St. Fairlawn, OH 44333. The Mass will take place at 11:30 AM. The burial will take place at Rose Hill Burial Park immediately following the Mass. Memorials may be made to a go fund me account set up for Jacqueline Reilly provided at the link below.

https://gofund.me/303dfc0b

Our Dear Jacqueline, “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Services in care of the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)