Jana LeClaire

Jana Vandenaker LeClaire

6/13/54-9/9/11

On Friday September 9, 2011 this world lost an earthly angel. Jana LeClaire lost her three year battle with Melanoma at the U of U Hospital, in their beautiful End of Life Hospice Suite.

She was born June 13, 1954 to Andy and Ruth Vandenaker. She was a cherished daughter who grew up in Roy, Utah and attended Roy schools and Weber State College.

As a child she loved the outdoors, was always riding bikes, swimming at various pools, playing tennis, and learning to play golf from her father and mother at an early age. She was a member of the LDS church. Jana had a deep spirituality, love of god and family and befriended everyone.

She married Gary LeClaire on December 3, 1988. She was a loving, giving and wonderful wife to Gary and mother to Nicole (LeClaire) Miller, and Justin LeClaire. She cherished her children and grandchildren.

She loved county music, feeling it told the story of what real life was like, the joy, heartbreak, trials, and life challenges. CMT was a constant in our homes.

She loved birthdays and holidays especially Christmas, wanting the entire family at each celebration even if it meant eating in three different rooms. Christmas meant lights outside, decorating the yard, four large trees up stairs and two down stairs and her packages looked professionally wrapped.

She was an avid golfer, teaching her husband to play though it took him many years before he could tie or best her in a match. She loved to play in tournaments with her mother. When teamed together, they often won. Her skill was on display when she often bested her husband and his friends while playing from the men''s tees.

She worked at HAFB for 36 years retiring in 2010 as a Budget and Financial Supervisor. She loved her work but most of all she loved the people she worked with.

Third Thursdays were reserved for dinners with the girls. She always anticipated seeing her friends, especially this last year. She looked forward to the traditional, twice yearly, Wendover bus trip that she and her friend Janae would take with other work colleagues; Friendships last forever.

We wish to thank the Doctors and Nurses at Huntsman 5th floor, clinics C&E, U of U ICU and Nevada Cancer Research Institute for their loving three year support.

Jana is survived by her husband Gary, mother Ruth, sister Sandra Bennett, and brother Robert Vandenaker. She is also survived by her step-daughter Nicole Miller and grandson Noah, step-son Justin LeClaire and Annie LeClaire and their children Missy, Soren and Anders. She will be missed deeply by her sister-in-law Jan Weaver and her lifelong friend Janae Pledger, she considered them both as sisters.

She was preceded in death by her father Andy Vandenaker and brother Lyle Harrington.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 16, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road. Friends may visit family on Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist''s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.

In lieu of flowers, Jana requested donations be made to Melanoma Research Foundation; information can be found at... http://donations.melanoma.org/cart/checkout.