Noelle Elizabeth Lanneau, age 51, of Universal City, Texas passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2020. Noelle was born October 23, 1969 at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska to loving parents Bob and Ruth. As an Air Force family, they moved to several states. During Bob's year in Thailand, Ruth and young Noelle moved to Georgia to live with her grandparents. She enjoyed adventures with cousins and other extended family during that year. After Bob returned to the US, they relocated to Washington State and still have dear friends from that time in their lives. Their move to San Antonio in the 1970's led to finding a new home with many friends and special experiences which they all treasured.
Noelle was an Angel on the earth, according to her mother. Her many friends agree. She had the calm presence of a girl ready for fun and not bothered by much -- a drama free girl! The girls in her classes at Live Oak Elementary and Coronado Village Elementary enjoyed her lively personality, quick wit, expressive face and creative ideas.
Noelle was the kind of person that people wanted to be around because she was so kind and patient. These traits followed her to Kitty Hawk Junior High where she played trombone in the band and was a cheerleader. Several new friends from that era are still close to her and her parents today. As a student at Judson High, Noelle thrived on the dance team and participated in band. She spent summers as a lifeguard at Olympia Swimming Pool. Her zest for life and fun personality continued to blossom and she added even more friends! As a graduate in 1987, she began to plan for college.
Attending the University of Texas at Austin was a highlight of her life. Several lifelong friends moved with her and she enjoyed 3 years living in Austin and attending football games. An active member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, she was majoring in Communications. During summer school before her fourth year, on August 5, 1990, she suffered a unexplainable heart attack and loss of oxygen to her brain. The resulting anoxic brain injury caused severe physical limitations that defined the last 30 years of her life, living in Heartland Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.
Remarkably, her sweet personality and long term memory was mostly unaffected by the brain injury. Her eyes sparkled when her parents and lifelong friends visited her. She recognized the regular helpers who attended to her physical needs. Over the past 30 years, her loving parents modeled for her friends and family the traits of devotion, dedication, Christian care and advocacy by their tireless efforts to protect and nurture Noelle. Her friends continued to visit her, celebrated birthdays, mailed cards, and helped her parents provide Noelle with a joyful life in the midst of difficult physical issues.
Noelle is preceded in death by her grandparents Isobelle and Earl Noel, Harbor Grace Newfoundland, Canada, Esther and William Lanneau, Ashburn, Georgia, Auntie Rae, Deer Lake, Newfoundland, Canada, and Uncle Derrell, Chula, Georgia. She is survived by her parents Robert and Ruth Lanneau, Universal City, Texas, Auntie Rosemary and Uncle Mike, Moncton New Brunswick, Canada, Uncle June, Deer Lake, Newfoundland, Canada, Auntie Paula and Uncle Reuben, Deer Lake, Newfoundland, Canada, Auntie Brenda and Uncle Peter, St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, Auntie Joan, Chula, Georgia, and Uncle Gary Wayne and Auntie Sue, Ashburn, Georgia. Noelle is also survived by many wonderful friends, nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her very much.
A visitation for Noelle will be held Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 16075 North Evans Rd., Selma, TX 78154. The rosary will be recited at 11:00 AM followed by a celebration of life mass. The Services will be livestreamed on the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/OLPHSELMATX/ .
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the Lanneau family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alamo Head Injury Association at 2203 Babcock Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229 or The Children's Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, attention Child Life Center, 100 NE Loop 410, Ste 706, San Antonio, TX 78216. Direct Links to these organizations are displayed below.
