Obituary
Jeanette LeDuc Nichols, age 61, of Lady Lake, Florida passed away on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, while under the care of hospice. She was a free spirit who loved nature, especially flowers. She somehow always found those people who needed a lift in life and was there for them. She was an artist, mostly acrylic painting, a Virginia Master Naturalist, a 40 year Red Cross Volunteer, including as a first responder to hurricane Katrina. Raised in Waldorf, Germany she graduated from Heidelberg HS having lettered in basketball, track and cross country, setting new regional records in the 440. That prompted her receiving a scholarship to the University of Rhode Island. After graduation she returned to Germany, met and married Brian Nichols, and became a military wife. There were many assignments and three years spent in Saudi Arabia. When Brian was deployed she managed home issues with aplomb. Along the way she managed to get a second bachelors degree and an MPA. Children were not in the cards for her but she sponsored foreign youngsters and families and they are her surrogate children living in TX.
There were no strangers to her, just friends she had not met yet.
She is survived by her loving husband, Brian Nichols, many nieces, nephews and cousins, and her brother James LeDuc of Virginia. She is also survived by her dog, Happy.
She was preceded in death by her brother Capt. Robert LeDuc, her mother Monique Septier LeDuc, and her father James LeDuc.
Services are deferred until arrangements can be made for a burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please consider adopting a baby elephant in her memory (but in your name so you can get regular updates) to the David Sheldrick wildlife trust.
For those who knew her and/or loved her, online sentiments can be shared at baldwincremation.com.
1978 Heidelberg High School Lions Basketball
Love sports? She lettered in three.
Love art?
She didn't just admire art made by others, she made it herself.
Love nature? She became a master naturalist as she walked out into it and protected it.
Love your body?
She became an expert about it in order to do her best by it.
Love your friends?
She got together often and kept them close by corresponding.
Want to give of yourself to children?
She didn't have her own, so she not only loved the nieces and nephews she was given, she looked farther and informally adopted even more of them.
Love your life?
When she became ill, she researched so she could fight as hard as she could to keep it.
She showed us how to not only be but to do.
Being the best friend of her brother Jim during their time in Walldorf I shared many years together with her whole family
Love you Aunt Jeanette
Always loved going to the beach with you
We loved talking about our time in Germany and the elephant sanctuary in Kenya.
I will always miss her.
Jeanette with Happy at beach
Your muralist friends in Art in Paradise will miss you sweet lady…..
Last Photo I was able to take of Jeanette. Take pictures of your loved ones, but don't forget to make real memories with them. I will miss you my dear sweet friend.
My condolences to her husband and to all those who cherished Jeannette. Rest in peace.