Jayne Lechliter

JAYNE LECHLITER

Jayne (Diduch) Lechliter went to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on January 12, 2025, following a four year battle with cancer. She is the daughter of Stephen Diduch, Kansas City, MO, and the late Lynn Lloyd. Besides her father, Jayne is survived by her daughters, Hannah (Jon) Carman, Fort Ashby, WV, and Lydia (Robert) Lewis, Stephens City, VA. Grandchildren Heidi Carman, and Shiloh, Garrett and Micah Lewis, sister Suellen (Walton) Jeffress, Fairfax, VA, and cousins Tracy (Mary) Doonan, Reynolds, IL, and Gary (Jane) Doonan, Rome, NY.

She was born on March 8, 1958, of a military family in Heidelberg, Germany, and grew up in Glen Burnie, MD, graduating from Glen Burnie High School in 1976. She attended Mount Ida College, Boston, MA, and graduated from West Virginia University in 1980, with a degree in recreation program planning. Jayne became a substitute teacher for special education in the winter of 1983. This is when she felt the calling to change her career and taught for 40 years, most recently in Allegany County, MD.

Jayne loved all fine arts from a young age, becoming a professional ballerina and dance school owner. She enjoyed operas, musicals, concerts, plays, visited art and history museums, and toured historical sites of the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. She also enjoyed swimming, volleyball, downhill and cross country skiing, snowshoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, pickleball, e-biking, and more. She also enjoyed watching the winter olympics, even going to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Her most important accomplishments in her life are her two children and her four grandchildren. She was loyal to her children and took great pride in her grandchildren, showing pictures to everyone. Whenever they would call her or need something, she would be there or help as soon as she could. She showed up to school and community performances, and took kids to summer camps. She enjoyed family trips to Harman, WV, Pigeon Forge, TN, Greenbrier, WV, Illinois, and more. She loved the younger years with "the grands" and would always be teaching them things through play. Micah would always make her smile with his kisses, even in her last days. One of the last things she did was try to kiss him back.

Jayne lived out her Christian faith in loyal participation at churches wherever she lived, most recently at Cornerstone Baptist Church. She drew strength knowing that despite the grimness of her cancer, her Savior had died for her sins and redeemed her. She trusted His words from John 14:1-3, that He has prepared a place for her and will come and receive her to Himself, as He has promised all those who trust Him for the forgiveness of their sins. She trusted Him to walk her "through the valley of the shadow of death" knowing she "will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever" (Psalm 23:4,6).

Jayne decided to donate her body to scientific research. She will have her ashes spread in the waters off the coast of Alaska by some of her friends. Alaska had a special place in her heart, having gone there numerous times. She did a missions trip to Nome, a trip to Fairbanks to see the aurora borealis and go dog-mushing, and sightseeing along the Gulf of Alaska where she saw and touched glaciers.

The family wishes to thank all of the doctors, nurses, and friends who went above and beyond to help her in this cancer battle the past four years. Pastor David Hattenfield will conduct a celebration of life service on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM, at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Cumberland, Maryland. If you wish to honor her, please give to the mission programs of Cornerstone Baptist Church.