[Oe List ...] A colleague of Yore Gees into the Light

[Judi White]

most of you will remmeer Jane (Boocher) LeBlanc. Joanna posted this notice on facebook. She went into the Light Monday afternoon, resting peacefully under hospice care in Avon, NY..  I had reconnected with Jane on facebook. I talked to her on the phone in August. At that time she was about to begin a new round of chemotherapy. She was  writing down, for her daughters why she had chosen this particular life of service as the Order Ecumenical. Jane was a most special woman,with a gentle, peaceful and loving Soul. She cherished her family and her life was dedicated to instilling the love of music in her students.  I have copied and posted what Jody - Joanna Collins - and Cindy Little - on facebook last night.

Jane was very active as a music teacher and as a development director for more than 30 years. She was a Rotarian and song leader of Rochester Rotary Club for 12 years. Jane was also the Choir Director at First Presbyterian Church of Avon.
Jane’s commitment to serving the underserved took her to Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in northwest North Dakota, where she taught school in the village of Mandaree. She also worked with the Fort Berthold Community College as development officer, raising funds to build a new college facility in New Town, N.D. Jane researched early songs of the Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes with the aid of a panel of tribal members, publishing a songbook, “Maa-baa-hi Ma-hac” with an accompanying tape. The college sponsored this project which was supported by North Dakota Council of the Arts She held deep appreciation for the Native culture and great sorrow for the way American Indians were treated since European –American contact.
Jane believed you could teach so much through music. Whether it was elementary children or adult choir, she strived to reach each and every individual. Her enthusiasm and her humanness made it fun and challenging while learning to sing or play an instrument. Her concern for inner city children led to her involvement both in teaching at #5 and #20 schools and her more recent tutoring of 3rd grade children at #8 School, a project of the Rochester Rotary. She also served as development director at Jordan Health Center and Unity Health Foundation. Teaching children to read and succeed in school led to her work at Quad A for Kids at the Rochester Area Community Foundation. Finally, a part time position at Literacy Volunteers of Rochester concluded her life work just two years ago.
Jane was a Christian church woman, and asked for the Lord’s guidance throughout her life, sometimes rebelling against it, but always remaining faithful. Her children, Cindy and Joanna, were raised in the 60’s and 70’s; they were daughters of the great revolutions of that time – the urban revolution, the civil rights movement, and the women’s revolution. Whether it was marching on the picket line with mom, or spending years in community development as youth, they were exposed to a greater world than Jane knew growing up in Elba. Today, they are strong women and good mothers. Thank the Lord for such perfect gifts. She loved them dearly.

--
Judi White
25 North Lake Street
Crescent City, FL 32112
Phone: (386) 569-6956