Jeanette Handley-Lavelle

Jeanette Handley-Lavelle passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on September 28, 2021. She lived an amazing life and will be dearly missed by her friends and family. She always strived to follow her own golden rules, among others to be “Grateful, Joyful, Hopeful, Peaceful and Happy”. Jeanette was adventurous, kind, engaging, and spread her joy for life to anyone willing to receive it.

She grew up in an Air Force family and lived in many places but hailed from San Antonio, Texas. She attended Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida and then settled in Kissimmee, Florida with her young family. Jeanette was a member of First Baptist Church of Kissimmee for many years, where she taught Sunday school and was very active in the youth ministry. She worked for Osceola County School District at Reedy Creek Elementary for over 25 years where she was loved by faculty and students.

Jeanette loved her two children more than life itself, Christopher M. Alba, 34 years old and Amanda D. Richard, 32 years old. Amanda and her husband Nate are pregnant with Nana J’s (Jeanette’s) first grandchild. Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents Ellie Hugh Handley and Tillie Mirabal Handley. She is also survived by her three siblings and their families, Jeanette’s twin sister, Annette Handley Garay, husband Joe Garay and children Lauren, Kyle and Ryan; Her sister Diane Handley Kainer, husband Mark and son John Mark (Jeanette’s Godson), as well as her brother Ellie Hugh Handley II, his daughters Tayler Handley and Nicole Handley Edwards.

Jeanette is survived by, and was happily married to, James (Jim) A. Lavelle for the last 15 years. She had devoted stepchildren, Ashley Lavelle and daughter Kaleigh, Brittany Norris, husband Anthony and two sons Dean and Vincent, and Kevin Lavelle.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Baptist – Kissimmee’s small chapel, 1700 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34741 on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 11:00am.

If you would like to send flowers for the service on Saturday, please send them to:

Family Funeral Care at 13001 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32837.

Expressions of sympathy may be expressed by sending donations to:

Tunnel to Towers Foundation www. https://t2t.org/

or

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.