Jeanne Caban

On February 23, 1939, Jeanne Laurent Caban was born to Arthur and Ethel Laurent. Jeanne grew up in the Bronx with her parents and brother Bruce, who was also one of her best friends. Jeanne enjoyed her family so much that, although they lived in a one bedroom apartment, she never even considered they might need more space. Jeanne's parents were unusually fun-loving, allowing them to do creative things such as building cobwebs with yarn that overtook the apartment. The Laurent family made many special memories together, and Jeanne often told the story of bringing their pillows and blankets up to the rooftop to spend hot summer nights sleeping under the stars. As a child in the Bronx, Jeanne enjoyed many common city experiences such as jumping double-dutch, watching boys play stick-ball in the street, playing in water flowing from an open fire hydrant, and roller skating on paths drawn with chalk by her and her friends. She loved visiting The Bronx Zoo with her family, where she rode camels and elephants and listened to the lions roar in their den.Jeanne was close to both sets of grandparents, who lived nearby. She enjoyed the benefits of being raised in an ethnically diverse family. Whether it was Seder dinner and traditional Jewish holiday celebrations with Grandpa Morris and Grandma Ida, or an afternoon nap on a giant feather mattress followed by a dinner of sausages from the pot belly stove with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Laura, Jeanne loved spending time with her grandparents. While Jeanne loved time with friends and family in the Bronx, she also enjoyed traveling with her family to watch her father, who was in show business, perform in various shows with his popular Vaudeville group "The Radio Aces". His career also allowed Jeanne to experience life in Miami while he performed at the Fountainbleu and other notable venues. While there, she attended school and spent free time walking to and spending time at the beach with her family. Her summers were spent in the Catskill mountains, where her dad performed at various "Borscht Circuit" venues such as the famous Grosinger Hotel. Jeanne loved watching him perform as she was growing up and into her young adult years.As she reached her late teens, Jeanne traded in her clamp-on street skates for a pair of pretty white leather skates, a custom skating outfit made by her seamstress grandma Ida, and her monogramed skate bag which read "Cookie", her skating nickname. Jeanne, or Cookie as she was known at the local skating rink Gayblades, loved showing off her skate moves, which included skate dancing. Jeanne loved to dance off her skates, as well. When her favorite skating rink was turned into a ballroom, Jeanne continued to go and dance whenever she could, and even went on to teach dance lessons during those years. In 1956, Jeanne graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School. Several years later at the same ballroom, Jeanne met her first husband, Rocco DiFazio, and they married in 1959. She and Rocco went on to have three children; Joey, Marissa, and Darren. Jeanne and Rocco eventually relocated from the Bronx to Spring Valley, New York to raise their family in a more rural setting, and lived there for 9 years. In 1970, Jeanne was remarried to Richard Halaychik and moved to Middletown, New York. Richard and Jeanne had her fourth child, April, and Jeanne lived there for 16 years.Jeanne loved raising her children and was very involved in each of their lives. She enjoyed attending their sporting events, performances, and field trips, and also volunteered in their classrooms. After returning to school in the early 1980's to pursue her nursing degree, Jeanne graduated nursing school in May of 1983 with an Associates in Applied Science degree, receiving an Academic Achievement Award of Excellence in Scholarship. After graduating she worked as a nurse in Cornwall Hospital until she moved to Central Florida in 1986. While there, she continued her nursing career in several different capacities from ICU to Home Health. Jeanne loved taking care of her patients, and always became to them more like family to than just their nurse. Over the years music and dancing continued to be Jeanne's passion. While living in Central Florida she joined the Surf Country Cloggers, performing at conventions, parades and other venues.Jeanne was an active grandmother to her oldest grandson Nate, driving two hours each way to pick him up whenever possible, spending quality time with him and teaching him about the Lord. Jeanne's love for music extended to her place of worship, Church on the Rock in Palm Coast, where she served on the praise team and taught in children's ministry using her original songs and lessons. In 1992 Jeanne married Philip Caban and was widowed in 1999.In 2001 Jeanne Caban retired from nursing and moved to Nashville, Tennessee to become "granny-nanny" to her youngest grandson Alex; providing love, affection, and discipleship for over six years. Jeanne continued to use her gift of song and her love for music to serve at Bethel World Outreach Center, where she sang with the choir and served in the children's music ministry. She later attended New River Fellowship, where she became a part of the church drama ministry and acted in various drama-comedies, with the mission of reaching people with the message of Jesus. In 2010 Jeanne began attending Grace Chapel in Leiper's Fork, where she served in various ministry roles including greeting team and helping with the special needs children's ministry. In 2016 Jeanne became a great-grandma to Nathaniel Junior, and was lovingly known by the name Gigi, which she chose for herself.Throughout her years, Jeanne impacted each of her children tremendously in their walk of faith, and is praised to have been the most spiritually formative person in each of their lives. She had an active ministry of love and encouragement outside of her family as well, and in the local community could be frequently seen praying with, encouraging, and enjoying the company of friends and staff of Bruegger's and Panera Bread, with whom she developed many treasured relationships. Jeanne was active at the local YMCA where she went to exercise and was involved with the senior's group, participating in travel and other activities. Always seeking the Lord for what he had for her, Jeanne became active in her local chapter of Community Bible Study, where she continued to cultivate established friendships and begin new ones.Jeanne battled many health challenges in her later years, culminating in a valiant fight against metastatic skin cancer. Throughout her many procedures, treatments, and appointments, she continued to spread joy and the love of Christ to all who had the privilege of participating in her care. Jeanne passed peacefully and victoriously into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, in the early morning hours of February 2, 2021 and leaves a legacy of loving God and loving people, having done both beautifully.Donations in Jeanne's memory can be made to Josiah's House at josiahshouse.net