Jeanne Nelson, 65, of Shabbona, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025. She was born on January 27, 1960 to her parents Betty and Frank. 
 
If we had to describe our mom, we’d say she was a helper. The saying “When scary things happen, look for the helpers” fit her perfectly - it shaped her entire life.
 
From a young age, she cared for her family, helping her mom with whatever was needed. As she grew older, that same spirit led her into nursing. While raising a family, she attended night classes to become an RN and later earned her bachelor’s degree. For more than 40 years - much of it in the emergency department - she cared for people at their most vulnerable. 
 
Family was her foundation and her purpose. It filled her life with love, and in the end, all her children were by her side. Throughout her entire life, her mom was her best friend.  Daily calls, concerts to go see Willie Nelson, cooking lasagna together for family gatherings. She loved to laugh – with her mom and brother and sister – they all had a sense of humor that kept life fun. And boy did she create the fun - going to concerts with her best friend of 40 years, Beth, hosting big parties with lasagna and tortellini salad, fishing trips in Minnesota and going to the state park to camp or cookout. 
 
It was her kids – and later grandchildren - that gave her the most happiness.  She raised 6 kids, which meant going to many graduations, sports games, creating family traditions like making Christmas cookies and decorating a fresh cut tree, growing tomatoes in the garden and enjoying time together at the fireworks. For her grandkids, she found special trinkets to give them, outfits that were so ‘pretty’ filled with lace, shells that were unique and she always requested snuggles.  She loved taking photos of them - one of her greatest gifts to us. 
 
She is survived by her children—Cristine (Kevin), Sarah (Jim), Ashley (Joshua), Ehren, and Katie; her eight grandchildren—Mason, Ava, Madeline, Mateo, Dean, Collin, Ethan, and Finn; her mother, Betty; her sister, Val (Mike); her brother, Frank (Michaelene); and nephews (Michael and Matthew).
 
She was preceded in death by her son, Jordan; her father, Frank; and her grandparents.
 
A Memorial Mass will take place Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2300 Main Street, Batavia IL 60510.