Jeanne was born in Rochester, NY, the second of three children to Louis George LaFontaine and Helen Agnes LaFontaine (née Dugan.)
Jeanne attended St. Monica’s Primary School and West High School in Rochester, NY. Her higher education included courses at Incarnate Word College (Teaching Methods), San Antonio College (Education and Psychology), and School of Paralegal Studies, Civil Litigation Honors Program, Atlanta, GA.
In 1955 she began her career working in the accounting department of Pfaulders, a large manufacturing company in Rochester, prior to her family relocating to San Antonio in 1957. She worked in various civilian areas upon moving to San Antonio. These included work with the Bexar County Hospital, San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, The Archdiocese of San Antonio, USAA’s Personal Liability Department and Santa Rosa Hospital before beginning a career in Civil Service at Randolph Air Force Base.
Jeanne began this journey on December 18, 1961 with the Airforce Training Center with a rank of GS-3 while waiting for a position to open at the Air Force Military Personnel Center. Her next assignment was to the Office of the Surgeon General. On December 5, 1965, Jeanne began her long and distinguished career with the Air Force Casualty Division. She touched many lives and had a special affinity with families of our unaccounted Air Force members from the Korean, Vietnam and Cold Wars. Jeanne’s knowledge of and devotion to the Prisoners of War/Missing in Action program was hailed by many next of kin and her peers. She brought hope and encouragement to the next of kin through their years of grief. She was recognized on an annual basis for her excellence with an Outstanding Performance Rating. Jeanne retired from civil service on June 30, 1995 with a rank of GS-7. Upon her retirement, Jeanne received the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award and a letter of congratulations from the President of the United States for her 33 years of service.
In addition to her Civil Service career, Jeanne found time to donate her talents to the San Antonio Crisis Center, the Citizens for Decency Organization, organizing the AFMPC Toastmistress Club, and teaching religious education to junior high students for nearly a decade. She was also a church choir member for many years and held various positions in many church organizations. At the time of her death, Jeanne was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Additionally, she served on the Board of the Crestridge Homeowners Association as a Director.
Jeanne enjoyed her time in retirement pursuing her talents in photography; painting in water color, acrylic and oil; various arts; and writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry. She received recognition for her writings and photography over the years. She had a flair for creating crosses from various materials; starting a business she called Los Cruces Designs.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Robert Louis LaFontaine and sister-in-law Vivian (née Horn); cousin, Patricia Greis (née Dugan); and great-nephew, Chad Austin LaBorde. She is survived by her sister, Janice Koehne (née LaFontaine) and husband Philip of McQueeney; nephew Jeffrey Koehne and wife Donna (née Pankau) of New Braunfels; nieces Lynne LaFontaine and partner Scott Sutherland of Austin, Laura LaBorde (née LaFontaine) and husband Chad of Seguin, Elaine Hipp (née LaFontaine) and husband John of Liberty, MO, Cheryl Koehne of Snowmass Village, CO and Michelle Mehrens (née Koehne) and husband Mark of San Marcos. Additionally, she is survived by her cousins Mary Major (née Dugan) and husband Butch of Holland, NY; Helen Christians (née Dugan) and husband Albert of Lake Oswego, OR; Mercedes Zoldos (née Dugan) and husband Darwin of Orchard Park, NY; and Vincent Dugan, II and wife Barbara of East Aurora, NY; great-nieces Sarah LaBorde of Seguin, Lauren Collier (née LaBorde) and husband Michael of Austin; and great-nephews Nathaniel Koehne of New Braunfels, Mark Mehrens, Jr., and Marshall Mehrens of San Marcos. Her beloved cat, Kiss-a-purr, has found a loving new home. She will be missed by her family and many friends. A funeral mass will be planned at a later date.
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