Jeanette M. Noel

Jeanette (Nettie) Marie Noel, beloved wife, mother, and friend, passed peacefully at the age of 77 on October 3, 2023, in Colorado with her children by her side. Jeanette was born on July 22, 1946, in Quincy, Illinois where she graduated from Quincy Notre Dame High School. Quincy is also where she met the love of her life, Gary Phillip Noel, and they were wed at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on June 10, 1967. During their 51 years of marriage, Nettie regularly referred to Gary as her knight in shining armor - their love story is like a fairy-tale.

Jeanette was a Registered Nurse graduating from Blessing Hospital School of Nursing, with additional coursework at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nettie quickly found her passion in helping families bring newborns into the world as a labor & delivery, nursery, and postpartum nurse and worked at Blessing Hospital on the maternity ward while she and Gary lived in Quincy. She also worked in various nursing capacities supporting newborns and new mothers in Mattoon, Illinois and Farmington, Missouri. Jeanette was also a certified Lamaze instructor, lactation consultant, and doula. Even after Nettie retired, she became known as the expert who new moms and families could call any hour of the day or night for support, a role she cherished. Her nurse's training and caregiving approach remained with her until her final days as she was constantly providing care to other residents at Balfour Senior Living and even the medical staff as they cared for her.

Nettie’s contributions to every community she or her children lived in were innumerable; including Eucharistic Minister and active member at St. Pius Catholic Church in Owensboro, Kentucky, board member of the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, St. Vincent DePaul volunteer, hospital volunteer, active member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Quincy, March of Dimes walk organizer, and always a family favorite “Camp Nana & Papa” with road trips for the grandchildren, plus many, many more.

Nettie’s amazingly beautiful smile, deep love, dedication to her faith, and incomparable caring approach were the signatures of how she approached her life. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and caregivers.

Jeanette is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Noel; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Staci Noel; and four grandchildren, Jackson & Noel Ringwald, Adrien & Beckett Noel. She was preceded in death by her husband Gary Phillip Noel and her parents Gladys Rita and James R. Higgins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, October 9, 2023, at 11:00 AM in St. Peter Catholic Church, 2600 Maine St., Quincy. Interment of both Jeanette and Gary in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday at St. Peter Catholic Church from 10:00 AM until the time of the services at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations are being made to Quincy March of Dimes or Owensboro, Kentucky St. Pius Catholic Church (https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z507/home) honor Nettie. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made at www.dukerandhaugh.com.