Leanne M. Jordan

Scarborough, ME -- Leanne Marie Jordan, 43, of Portland, passed away November 6, 2014 following a lifelong battle with kidney disease. She is pre-deceased by her father Dick Jordan who, alongside her mother - Linda Jordan of Portland - spent countless hours and days sitting with Leanne through a battery of hospitalizations and surgeries. Leanne will be fondly remembered by her sister and brother-in-law Melissa and David Farwell, brother and sister-in-law Richard and Stephenie Jordan, and all of her loving aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, nieces and nephews, and extended family. “Auntie Leanne” will especially be remembered by the little ones in her life – LindaRose, AnnMarie, Phoebe and Theo – as it was often the young kids that motivated her to push through her illnesses and spend time with the family. She will also be remembered by her pugdog Fred and his feisty sister Chloe, as they will definitely miss sleeping by her side.  

Leanne graduated from Scarborough High School in 1989. After graduation she rented an apartment in Gorham with her friend Tonya. She worked in an office, dated guitarists, listened to ‘Skynard, and held epic parties. For a brief but fun time, and despite recurring fainting spells attributed to anemia, she enjoyed a “normal” life. Unfortunately, her initial diagnosis was wrong, and her symptoms were eventually linked to the combination of a rare blood disorder and kidney disease. Her health began to deteriorate quickly in her early twenties, leading to years of dialysis and ultimately her first kidney transplant, donated by her mom, in 1999. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful, and Leanne returned to dialysis until a second transplant the following year, which also failed. Before her third and final transplant in 2004, she endured a myriad of major health issues, including heart failure, diabetes, blood clots, and two mild strokes. Since the final transplant, although the kidney functioned well, her long-term health continued to falter, due mostly to a life of medications and treatments.

Leanne was a continuous source of strength and amazement to those who knew her. The health ailments with which she was afflicted may have greatly determined the course of her life, but they did not define it. As her dad was fond of saying – she was tough as nails and outlived all nine lives that we originally believed she was given. Despite her frequent illness, Leanne maintained several hobbies. She loved fishing from the dock on Raymond Pond and she painstakingly researched and maintained a detailed family tree, going back several generations to find the origins and history of her immediate and extended families (jordanfam.tribalpages.com). She also maintained a robust circle of friends in online gaming communities, ascending to top ranks in everything from Mobsters to trivia. It was also online that Leanne became acquainted with the Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance (COVVHA), and became an active member. Her father’s early death was from a type of cancer linked by the USDoD to Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. This buoyed the logical assumption that Leanne’s own congenital illnesses (in addition to her siblings’ autoimmune diseases) were likely linked to her dad’s wartime service and exposure. COVVHA members were strong supporters and allies to Leanne during her final year. Leanne’s family would like to thank the nurses of the Visiting Nurses Association, and the staff at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

Per her wishes, Leanne’s ashes will be released near her father’s grave in Springvale, Maine. A celebration of Leanne’s life will be held from 4 to 6 pm on Sunday, November 9 at the VFW, 50 Peary Terrace in South Portland. All who knew her are invited to come and share condolences, photos, tributes, and funny stories.

In lieu of flowers, Leanne requested that contributions be made to the Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance, online at http://covvha.net/.

Please visit www.advantageportland.com to sign Leanne’s guestbook and to leave condolences and memories with the family.