Shirley Jane LeBlanc Obituary (1933 - 2021)

Shirley Jane Burke LeBlanc, 87, took her leave from this life on February 7, 2021, surrounded by her family and her beloved Maltipoo, Sugar. Diagnosed with cancer in December, she made peace with the diagnosis and looked forward to reuniting with her deceased husband of 56 years, Russell J. LeBlanc, Sr., as quickly as possible. Shirley was known to drive with a heavy foot and she did not take her eyes off the road on her journey home. Born in Clifton Springs, NY, Shirley became an RN in 1954 and a Nurse Anesthetist in 1958 and worked until her retirement in 1996 while raising her four children with Russell, a salesman, and moving several times over the years. After her retirement, Shirley and Russ found their dream home in Minden, NV, and enjoyed being close enough to their children and grandchildren to be able to see them often and be together for special events, holidays, and vacations. She loved the Carson Valley, her neighbors (who were so caring and helpful particularly while she cared for her ailing husband and till her departure), the Sierra Nevada Mountains, being part of the Sertoma organization, her church communities, and the local activities. Being an avid reader, she made frequent trips to the library, and spent many hours creating cross-stitched Christmas stockings for each of her 10 grandchildren. She will be remembered for her strength of will, independence, pragmatism, and most of all, her absolute devotion to her family, of which she was tremendously proud. Having decided shortly before Thanksgiving that she was unable to continue living by herself, she spent the last 3 months of her life in El Dorado Hills, where she was lovingly cared for till the very end by her daughter-in-law, her son, and their boys, for which the rest of the family are eternally grateful. Shirley is survived by her daughter Laurie J. LeBlanc-Rickaby (Brett Rickaby) of Los Angeles, CA, her son Russell J. LeBlanc, Jr. (Juei-Hsin Chin) of Eldorado Hills, CA, her daughter Tina M. LeBlanc-Jerkunica (Marco Jerkunica) of San Mateo, CA, and her daughter Sherri L. LeBlanc-McDevitt (Peter McDevitt) of Danville, CA, her grandchildren Kaitlyn and Mackenzie Rickaby, Trey, Rowan, and Royce LeBlanc, Marinko and Sasha Jerkunica, and Aidan, Quinn, and Liam McDevitt. As well as her husband Russell, she is predeceased by her sister Lenna Clark (Canandaigua, NY) and Lowell Burke (Clifton Springs, NY). The family plans to honor her wishes and not hold a funeral, but will hold an intimate graveside memorial in the near future at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, NV, where her ashes will be interred with her beloved husband. They request that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in her name to the charity of your choice or to cancer research.