Jean LaGarde Jans' Obituary
Jean LaGarde Jans, age 85, formerly of Leesburg, Florida, passed away on September 30, 2015, following a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born April 28, 1930, in Cary, North Carolina and was the daughter of Aldor Lewis LaGarde and Eugenia Dunbar MacNeil LaGarde.
Jean was predeceased by her parents; brothers Arthur, Gordon, Stanley and Sonny; and sister, Ann Lemon.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Fred “Ted” Jans, Jr., son Richard and his wife Charlotte MacEachron Jans, and their four children Gin (Mike) Smith, David (Ashleigh) Jans and son Wesley, Katy Jans and Sarah Grace Jans; daughter Dianne Stone and her husband Mark, and their two children Josh and Lauren; brother, Glenn LaGarde (Wilma); and numerous nieces, nephews, and countless friends.
She attended Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia and was believed to have been the oldest living member of the Delta Phi Gamma social sorority. She was employed by Gulf Oil Company where she lived and worked in both the United States and South America. Later, while working for GEICO in Washington, D.C., she met Ted.
Jean and Ted were married on June 4, 1954 in Silver Spring, MD. Their lives were filled with loving family and friends whom they met while living in many parts of the United States including Maryland, Colorado, Michigan, Arkansas, Oregon, North Carolina and Florida.
Jean was an avid golfer, brilliant bridge player and a wonderful mother and homemaker. She was a long-time volunteer for Cornerstone Hospice of Lake County, Florida, as well as an active member of Lake Square Presbyterian Church.
The family wishes to thank Cornerstone Hospice for their gracious and loving care; Dr. Ralph Gousse, Sara and Teresa at Florida Cancer Center; and the countless friends and family members who walked with the immediate family during her final days.
A celebration of Jean’s life will be held on November 7, 2015, at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Road., Orlando, Florida 32819.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Florida 32778, www.cshospice.org; The Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090, www.alz.org; Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th floor, New York, New York, 10022, www.bcrfcure.org; or a charity close to your heart.
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