Dr. Jeanette Jacobs

On the evening of Sunday, November 2nd, 2025, beloved Psychologist Dr. Jeanette Jacobs of Lake Helen, Florida, passed away peacefully with her two children and half-brother by her side in hospice care at the age of 62. She is survived by: her children, Emma Jacobs and Silas Ray Jacobs Dhonemai; her mother, Carole Lauer; her sister, Lynne Hammar; and her half-brother, James Stewart II.
She was born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania to Carole Lauer and Jim Stewart. Jeanette's family instilled in her a hunger for knowledge, an inquisitive mind, and a sharp wit as she grew up with her sister Lynne and her step-siblings Mick, Jackie, Bobby, and Trina. She absolutely loved children and helped raise many of her younger family members.
Though she struggled for a while to choose a life path and worked many different jobs, from glass shops and mall management to QVC, she eventually landed on mental health work and fell in love with both helping people and learning about the human mind. Jeanette worked in the mental health industry for 28 years, supporting hundreds of patients in both Florida and Pennsylvania. Throughout her accomplished career as a psychologist, she worked with many different groups, including veterans, people with drug & alcohol issues, at-risk youth, the unhoused, and the elderly. Nothing fulfilled her more than helping those in need. In an autobiographical essay, she once wrote that she loved "every bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived, coffee and highlighter-fume-filled minute" of her education from her Bachelor's in Individual & Family Studies and Master's in Counseling Psychology to her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. To her, there was nothing more rewarding than the fatigue of self-actualization. "The bad news is that I am nowhere near done learning," she wrote, "but the good news is that I don't think I ever have to be." She ingrained this passion and student-of-life mentality in her own kids, as well.
If asked what she was put on this earth to do, Jeanette would probably answer, "to love, to help others, and to be the best mother I can be." Anyone who was around her during her time raising her two children would say she was born to be a mom. She loved her kids more than anything in the entire world. She would have done anything & everything for Silas Ray Dhonemai, 27, and Emma Jacobs, 26, but her legacy of fierce love and support extended far beyond her blood. She served as a "weekend mom" to many of Silas Ray and Emma's friends, including Nicole, Lanae, and Jamie, among many others. She made people feel welcome, at home, loved, and appreciated with hugs, home-cooked meals, and genuine interest in others' lives. She also had an undeniable hunger for adventure. Though many times she was physically (or financially) limited, she did her best to make time for exploration and fun. From video games to camping and RV trips, she was always down for new experiences, especially if it meant quality time with loved ones.
Jeanette's time in hospice and her passing were gentle and painless, though the days leading up to it were fraught with discomfort, uncertainty, and sheer exertion of will. With COPD, asthma, emphysema, and many other health struggles, this time was very difficult for her and her children. Silas Ray, Emma, and daughter-in-law Avery flew down as soon as they could when she called them to her, the three of them determined to love, support, and advocate for her the way she had taught them to do for themselves. The transfer into hospice care was both her request and the heavy decision of Emma and Silas Ray: a way to finally liberate her from the anguish of fighting through breath after labored breath. We truly believe–after all the heartache, suffering, struggle for breath, and the long-awaited relief she was able to receive in hospice care–that Jeanette is finally at peace. She battled nicotine addiction for almost all of her life and had her own internal struggles, though her life was always filled with daily joys brought from animals, loved ones, patient success stories, and the beauty of nature. Now she is able to spread her metaphorical or literal wings (no one really knows!) and be free. We can feel her presence around us - peaceful, joyful, vibrant as ever, and untrapped by the confines and strife of being in a human body. She would wish all reading this the same feeling in life and wish them to pursue their dreams and happiness.
Burial and graveside service will be at 12:00 p.m., Friday, November 14th at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, 7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville, FL 32641. We will be updating the obit with the celebration of life details when we plan it, it will likely be next year around her birthday in September.
Jeanette leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love, benevolence, and strength, but the ache left by her passing is acutely felt by her immediate family, community members, and patients alike. She was loved by all who knew her kind and generous soul. She was a mother first and foremost, but also a daughter, a sister, a mentor, a lifelong learner, and a friend.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the GoFundMe Campaign that is supporting her children through this extremely difficult time. The link is shared below under "Donations". https://gofund.me/48587db74
If you are unable to give, please share the campaign with your community.