Susan Arlene Leblanc

Susan (Susi) Arlene (Gardner, Nielsen) LeBlanc, of Jurupa Valley, passed away on November 9, 2022, at the age of 73. She was born February 3, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, and was the oldest of three children. Preceded in death by her parents James Carlton Gardner, Amelia Theresa (Ianni) Gardner, and brother Henry Ianni Gardner. Survived by her husband Phillip LeBlanc of Jurupa Valley, sister Kathleen (Tim) Wolf, son Justin R. (Laura) Nielsen of Cypress, daughter Anne Marie R. (Rion) Allbaugh of Alta, and step-daughter Melissa Cunningham of Glendora, grandchildren Grace, Stella, and Nicholas Nielsen, Ryder and Ayla Allbaugh, and Brianna, Katie and Sean Cunningham, niece Gina (Shawn) Cloutier, nephew James (Michelle) Simons Il, great-nephew James (Toni) Simons Ill, great-nieces Jessica and Jaidan Simons and many loving cousins. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and lived in Dearborn and Livonia in her early years. Her fathers work moved the family to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1958 and then to La Mirada, California in 1960. Susi attended La Mirada High School from 1963-64 and then from 1964-1967 the newly built William N. Neff High School in La Mirada where she graduated. She married Svend R. Nielsen on February 21, 1970, and received her bachelors degree from the University of California Riverside in English in 1971. While earning her teaching credential she began an internship as a teacher. This launched a long career at La Sierra High School where she spent nearly four decades following her passion to teach. When she first started teaching, she was only a few years older than her students! She received her Masters degree in child development from the University of Redlands and through her years at La Sierra High School she taught child development, home economics, world cultures, sociology, and psychology as well as involvement with student clubs and many student teachers that she mentored and advised along the way. Mrs. Nielsens room became a space safe for teenagers to unload their troubles and joys as they navigated the pressures of becoming young adults. But that didnt mean she wasnt tough. There were many detention slips passed out for not completing homework! The thousands of students she taught over the years made it commonplace for her to run into former students throughout her life. She would not only remember the students names but also what period they had with her, where they sat and who sat by them. Going about town often turned into longer than planned affairs because of how many people she knew and how much she enjoyed talking and sharing with others. She was also heavily involved in raising her children and volunteered countless hours in their activities with Riverside Childrens 1st Theater, Indian Hills Swim Team, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, CCD, and PTA. Beyond that, she hosted many gatherings for her kids friends including homework parties, sleepovers, birthdays, and holidays where she would cook and nurture anyone who walked through her door. In 1993, the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program began at La Sierra High School and ignited another passion for Susi, helping first-generation college-bound students navigate the admissions and scholarship process that may have been unfamiliar for their families. She spent the next decades heavily involved with the program and helping it start and grow in other communities throughout Southern California. Susi was absolutely committed to help students achieve their dream of a college degree including heavy involvement with scholarship programs to assist with the cost burden. She married Phillip LeBlanc on August 8, 2008, and found a devoted companion for the next chapter in her life, retirement. Though she was still involved with AVID and teaching future teachers at Cal State San Bernadino, she was able to devote more time to her passion for travel. Phil and Susi took numerous cruises, including trans-Atlantic ones, and visited many countries. She was multi-lingual with knowledge of English, Spanish, Danish, German, Italian, French, and Dutch helping to connect her to so many people along her travels. They also camped across the nation in their RV on their own and with their camping club as they worked on a goal of seeing all the National Parks. She shared her love of travel with her family by spearheading family cruises in 2012 and 2019 with her children and their families plus invitations to camping trips. Susi had a passion for her Catholic religion, her family, friends, and students, traveling, languages, cooking, and gardening. But teaching always held a special place in her heart and seeped into everything she did. She taught her children and grandchildren her love of cooking, gardening, traveling, and family traditions. Even through her many health setbacks, she kept a dogged determination to come back and continue living life to the fullest. When recovering at the hospital she was known for offering to take other patients canceled appointments for physical therapy. Susi gave so much of herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, confidante, mentor, and friend. She will be truly missed. Visitation Sierra Memorial Chapel Mortuary 951-687-0551 | Monday 11/28, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Service St Catherines of Alexandria Church Cemetery Olivewood Memorial Park. 3300 Central Ave. Riverside, CA 92506 951-683-6611 | Tuesday 11/29, 1:30 pm Mass St Catherines of Alexandria Church Tuesday 11/29, 12:00 pm