Nicole Mary Follansbee

After diligently fulfilling a purpose-driven life, Nicole Mary Follansbee, age 43, left the earthly side on the evening of February 4, 2018, to unite in heaven with God, her Creator, with whom she held a strong personal relationship. She was the eldest child of Kenneth Grant Follansbee Sr. and Janet Monty Follansbee and sister to Shannon Mary Follansbee and husband, Pedro Luis Gonzalez, and Kenneth Grant Follansbee Jr. and wife, Jennifer Hinchey. Nicole possessed great love for her four-year old nephew and godson, Leonardo Monty Gonzalez. In addition, she leaves behind her Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Chip and Aunt Joanne and Uncle Bob: her godfather, Arthur David Monty; her goddaughter, Juliana Leach, cousins, and a host of devoted friends.

At the age of 11, Nicole was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and from that day forward her life changed dramatically. Nevertheless, she was not one to sit on a pity pot and gave to her life and to others all that she could. She excelled in academics. Thus in 2001 she earned three masters’ degrees from the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, in the respective fields of nursing, health informatics, and public health. Her last position was as a medical liaison with the flight doctors at NASA.

For many years, Nicole, lived in her adopted city of Houston where she experienced on-going health issues as complications of the diabetes. In February 2006, she received a new lease on life with a kidney/pancreas transplant. A grief-stricken family had lovingly chosen to donate the matching organs of their son.

Nicole’s strong faith, cheerful outlook, and determination, which were often beyond measure, taught her to defy her limitations and to maximize her abilities. With some reluctance, she left Houston and returned to her former neighborhood with the understanding that she, her three pooches, and her parents would not occupy the same home. Her goal was to live as an independent adult and not as a come-home kid.

During the all too brief time that Nicole lived once again in familiar surroundings, she acquired many new, cherished, and loyal friends and lived life with all the gusto that she could muster. She defied age barriers or numerous other barriers for that matter. Nicole reflected her values because she was authentic in her beliefs, thoughtful in her caring, kind in her deeds, staunch in her support of tolerance and inclusivity, generous in spirit, loyal to the core, and an inspiration to those who knew her intimately. She brought sunshine to those who thrive on sunshine, and she was well prepared for her eternal home.

The celebration of Nicole’s life and the Mass of Christian Burial will take place at noon time on Saturday, February 17, at St. Monica Catholic Church in Dallas, where Nicole was baptized as an infant. This will be followed by a reception at two o’clock on the same afternoon at the Follansbee family home. Directions will be provided at the service. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that donations be made in memory of Nicole Mary Follansbee to support the work of Dr. Richard Knight, her beloved transplant surgeon, in care of the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, PO Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210 or online at www.houstonmethodisthospitalfoundation.org.

“DON’T TAKE YOUR ORGANS TO HEAVEN,

BECAUSE HEAVEN KNOWS WE NEED THEM HERE.”