Jeanne Elizabeth Cole, born August 6, 1943, in Illinois, was the second-born of identical “mirror twins,” sharing a lifelong bond with her sister, Cheryal Ann Cole. The girls were the beloved daughters of Robert Peter Cole and Ruth Kerner Cole and were raised in Palatine, Illinois. Jeanne graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Illinois Masonic Hospital Association on September 11, 1964. She went on to practice nursing for more than 25 years throughout the state of Illinois, caring for countless patients with compassion, skill, and dedication. Jeanne also carried a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years she pursued a variety of business ventures, including Mary Kay cosmetics, managing sales for a chiropractic office, and operating a Suddenly Slender franchise. She approached each endeavor with enthusiasm, optimism, and a desire to help others improve their lives. A devoted member of the Church of Scientology, Jeanne was deeply committed to service. She volunteered in New York following the 9/11 tragedy and supported many individuals through their personal hardships. Helping others was one of the defining purposes of her life. In 2010, Jeanne moved to Durango, Colorado, to be closer to her twin sister. She lived there for five years before returning to work with the Church of Scientology in California and New York. After many years of dedicated service, Jeanne officially retired in May 2022 and returned to Durango, where she lived with her sister for the remainder of her life. One of Jeanne’s proudest accomplishments was completing 77 miles of the Colorado Trail at the age of 70. In 2013, she hiked from the top of Molas Pass to the Junction Creek trailhead alongside her twin sister and her sister’s grandson. Jeanne and Cheryal cherished their daily walks on the first two miles of the Colorado Trail whenever the weather allowed. Together, they also enjoyed working with and training service dogs, a shared passion that brought them joy and purpose. Jeanne will be remembered for her kindness, her unwavering dedication to helping others, her adventurous spirit, and the extraordinary bond she shared with her twin sister.

Jeanne’s legacy is one of compassion, service, and unwavering dedication to helping others. As a Registered Nurse for more than 25 years and a lifelong volunteer through the Church of Scientology, she supported people through some of their most difficult moments, including her service in New York after the 9/11 tragedy. Her entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, and commitment to improving the lives of others defined her work and her relationships. She will also be remembered for her adventurous heart and the extraordinary bond she shared with her identical twin sister, Cheryal. At age 70, Jeanne completed 77 miles of the Colorado Trail—from Molas Pass to the Junction Creek trailhead—and cherished daily walks with her sister whenever the weather allowed. Her love of the outdoors, her joy in training service dogs, and her steadfast devotion to family and faith leave a lasting imprint on all who knew her.

She was preceded in passing by her mother, Ruth Kerner Cole; father, Robert Petter Cole; and brother, Petter William Cole.

Jeanne is survived by her twin sister, Cheire Hughes; sister, Cissy Rowlings; niece, Jeanne Hicks; and great nephews Cord Arnold and Jarvie Arnold.