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In between her funeral service and the journey to her final resting place Wednesday, Nancy Jackson took one last ride at Kennywood Park.

"My mother would have loved this," a tearful Ted Jackson said as he drove behind the hearse bearing her casket as it rolled through the West Mifflin amusement park.

Nancy Jackson, 76, worked at the amusement park for 40 years, starting out counting money and working her way up to bookkeeper, until her 1998 retirement. She died Saturday in William Penn Care Center in Jeannette.

"This was a big part of her life," said Ted Jackson of Morrisville. "I don't think that there are any members of my family that hadn't worked (at Kennywood) at one time or another."

It was suggested to the Jackson family that she would like a final trip through the amusement park, a request that park officials quickly granted.

After a funeral Mass at nearby Holy Trinity Church, a funeral procession of nearly 20 vehicles made its way into the park, led by Larry Russ, Kennywood's director of public safety.

Because the park is closed on weekdays for the season, the procession wound its way through an empty, silent park, first passing the landmark carousel. The calliope music of the carousel that Jackson loved so much was quiet. Employees, however, made sure the bright lights of the merry-go-round were lit to honor Jackson's memory.

The procession passed Jackson's park office and other attractions, including the Parkside Cafe, before leaving for St. Joseph Cemetery.

At her viewing Tuesday, family members placed pictures of carousels next to Jackson's casket, and a yellow Kennywood arrow, given to her as a retirement gift, behind the casket.

Jackson's daughter, Georgeanna Hill of Harrison City, said her family always knew when the amusement park was about to open for the season. Calls would start pouring in from people hoping Jackson could help a relative get a summer job or obtain ride tickets.

"She treated everyone the same," public safety Officer Carl Mowry said. "She never shrugged anybody off. When you said 'Hi,' she'd say 'Hi.' "

Kennywood public relations manager Jeff Filicko said at least two other funeral processions for longtime Kennywood employees made their way through the park in the past few years. Family members have spread ashes of loved ones inside the park.

"It's interesting that our guests have that strong a connection with our park," Filicko said.

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