Jeanne Marie Levasseur, born Jeanne Marie McKinnon in October of 1928, to John Gilbert and Gertrude (Grismore) McKinnon, passed away December 30th, 2022, with her family by her side. She was 94 years old.
Jeanne was born and raised in Memphis Tennessee with three siblings, John Day, Elizabeth Ann, and Michael. She graduated Sacred Heart High School in 1947 and shortly thereafter in 1948 married the love of her life, Camille Joseph Levasseur in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Church in Memphis Tennessee. They soon welcomed three sons, Darrell, Camille, and Michael.
In 1954, Jeanne enrolled at Memphis State University where she juggled schoolwork and caring for three active boys while married to a Navy husband serving tours that took him away from the family for long stretches at a time. A full plate indeed!
In 1958 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art and Sciences and chose a career as an elementary schoolteacher. During her long career in the teaching profession, Jeanne taught at schools in different places including Japan and the Philippine’s due to several military moves. She weathered the challenging lifestyle of a military family with purpose and resolve and was a true testament to the strength and resilience of a Navy Wife.
In 1962 Chuck received orders to serve at a Naval base in Yokosuka Japan, so Jeanne packed up the three boys along with the new addition to the family, Elizabeth Ann, and moved to Japan with her husband. While in Japan, Jeanne and Chuck added Jeannemarie as the final addition to the family.
After tours in Japan and the Philippines, the entire family moved back to the States and settled in Ventura, California which would be Jeanne’s beloved home for the rest of her life. She continued juggling a family and work as well as her education, receiving a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Southern California in 1975.
Jeanne eventually retired from her teaching career around 1989 and traveled the globe with her steadfast sailor by her side. When she wasn’t on safari in Tanzania, sipping wines in France, or riding a camel in the Gobi Desert, she was busy enjoying her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, friends, church, dogs, agility trials, knitting, and camping in the “Lorry”, and books! So many books!
Jeanne is survived by three sons and daughters-in-laws. Darrell, Camille and Louella, and Michael and Tina Levasseur. Two daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth Ann and Dennis Kelsch and Jeannemarie and Michael Barrow. Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Camille “Chuck” Levasseur, sister Elizabeth Ann Richland, and her brothers John Day and Michael McKinnon as well as daughters-in-law Sharon M. Levasseur and Patricia Levasseur. Jeanne is also survived by 27 Grandchildren and 17 Great-Grandchildren and Fibber (one naughty and very well-loved companion dog).
Bon Voyage Mom, we miss you tremendously and will never forget you. May you and dad travel every inch of heaven together.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours to be held on Wednesday evening, January 25, 2023 from 6 to 8pm in the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, 15 Teloma Drive, Ventura, where a Most Holy Rosary will be recited at 7pm. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday January 26, 2023 at 10am in Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 3175 Telegraph Road Ventura. Interment will immediately follow in Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery, Oxnard.