Jolaine Kingery was a woman who loved each of her seven children in a special and unique way.

That was the image Father Patrick Kingery, pastor of Holy Cross Church, painted of his mother, who died May 1. Father Kingery celebrated a funeral Mass for his mother at her parish, Immaculate Heart of Mary, May 4. His brother, Father Michael Kingery, pastor of St. Clement Church in Calhoun, concelebrated, along with more than 50 priests. “Our mother had a unique way of coming to know her seven children, and she had an ability to make all seven of us feel special,” Father Kingery said in his homily. “She loved each one of us in a unique and special way. And she loved us all equally.” Mrs. Kingery, 80, grew up in Atlanta and graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1949. It was while in college that she discovered the Catholic faith. “In each phase of my mother’s life, she taught us values and lessons and (was) always communicating her strong Catholic faith, which she embraced in college and which comforted her for the entirety of her life,” Father Kingery said. Throughout her life, Mrs. Kingery volunteered and supported numerous Catholic organizations She was active in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program for several years and was involved in the first Cursillo retreat in Atlanta. She was a Lady Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and in 1996, she received the St. Marguerite D’Youville Award from the Grey Nuns in Atlanta. The award recognizes one whose life, service and goodness reflect the spirit of the Grey Nuns’ foundress. In addition, she constantly gave her time, talent and financial support to those in need, including at the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home for cancer patients, and St. Luke’s soup kitchen. But it was her role as a wife, mother and grandmother that best suited Mrs. Kingery, her son said in his homily. “Looking back, I never really appreciated the effort it took to raise such a large family. She instilled values in us that she shared with my father, especially of education. She always wanted us to study and to go to college,” he said. “At the same time, she never wanted us to be spoiled, but she always did.” She loved to travel, and believed fully that “when you’ve been blessed, you must bless others,” Father Kingery said. “She taught by example. She was a woman of humility. She didn’t like people who gossiped at all,” he said, recalling one phrase his mother taught him that he continues to use. “There was something going on at the church, and everyone was talking about it. My mother said ‘this is a matter left to more prayer and less words.’” At a vigil held May 3, Father Michael Kingery also spoke of his mother, who, like him, loved ice cream, and was more of a night person than a morning one. He called her a great inspiration and a “great mommy.” “(I was constantly) inspired by her faithfulness, patience and endurance,” he said. “I will seek to be more like her today and every day.” In addition to Fathers Patrick and Michael, she is survived by her husband of 55 years, J. William Kingery; brother, James C. Bailey; daughter, Karen McConnell and husband, Michael; daughter Patricia McCarty; son, John W. Kingery Jr. and wife, Claudia; daughter, Collette Sherry and husband, Robert; daughter, Theresa Forman and husband, Dan; and nine grandchildren. She was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Atlanta. Donations may be made to the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, 1750 Quarry Road, Yardley, PA 19067-3998.