PAMELA LOUISE LADUE

Pamela Louise LaDue, 79 of Sycamore, Illinois, passed away on May 2, 2026 surrounded by her devoted husband and daughter.

After a long illness, she spent the last year in the compassionate care of the exceptional staff at the DeKalb County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, who became friendly faces on her long journey home.

Pam was the youngest of three daughters born to Dorothy Allen and Walton Alderfer Nyce on August 22, 1946, in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. She was raised in Carmel, New York where she spent her formative years singing at Drew Methodist Church before earning a degree in voice and music education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. After several years teaching elementary music, Pam’s adventurous spirit led her to sign up to teach on a U.S. military base with her best friend, Nancy Eckhardt. She spent two years in Vilseck, Germany teaching and exploring nearby European cities. Upon returning to the states, she joined Schulmerich Carillons, the oldest handbell company in the U.S., proudly following in her father’s footsteps.

Pam met her handsome maestro, Bernie LaDue, in 1969 while they were both singing in the Master Chorale of Westchester. They settled in Carmel, NY where they had their daughter, Nicole, who became one of Pam’s greatest joys. While juggling work and a family, she returned to school at night to earn her Masters of Public Administration, leading to a long and meaningful career in various sectors of the New York State government.

In their retirement, Pam and Bernie traveled the world and enjoyed many years near friends and family in Northern Virginia before moving to Illinois to embrace their favorite role of all: doting grandparents to their beloved grandchild, T. Turner, who brought immeasurable delight.

Pam never pursued a professional singing career but remained a diva in the best sense of the word: bold, expressive and unafraid. She lived life with a directness that left no one guessing what she thought. She believed in speaking up, showing up, and loving her people with her whole, unfiltered heart. At home, she could often be heard using a silly voice to ask her beloved Bernie for some Hershey’s kisses, a small ritual that captured the humor and tenderness of their marriage; a partnership full of music, humor and unwavering devotion. Even while fighting lymphoma, Pam was never without her signature red lipstick - a final flourish of the elegance and determination that defined her.

Pam is survived by her beloved husband, Bernard J. LaDue, her daughter Nicole D. LaDue (Sheldon P. Turner); her cherished grandchild, T. R. LaDue Turner; her sister Karen Oehlschlager (Robert); and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister Barbara Jo Lundberg (Ronald).

A funeral will be held at 10am on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Federated Church of Sycamore, Illinois, which became Pam’s spiritual home over the past few years.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.

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