Obituary of Nanette Cecelia Altheide

Nanette Cecelia (Lass) Altheide (age 76) of Herndon, VA, passed away peacefully in her home on April 1, 2017. Born on January 18, 1941, in New Orleans, LA to the late Frank Peter Lass and late Helen Cecelia (Hanneman) Lass. Nan married Carl Philip Altheide on August 12, 1961 in LaGrange, IL. She and Carl spent their first years in Lafayette, IN and then in Galesburg, IL and Champaign, IL. They moved from Illinois to Fairfax, VA in 1980. Nan graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, IL in 1958. In 1984 she received her B.S. in Elementary Education with Honors from George Mason University. She received her Masters in Education from George Mason University in 1990. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Chi Honor Society, and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Carl Philip Altheide of Herndon, VA; her son, Randall James Altheide (Debbie) of Crystal Lake, IL, her daughter, Lori Anne Haislip (Charlie) of Potomac Falls, VA; Grandchildren: Joshua (Jaime) Altheide, Jason (Tracy) Altheide, Charlie Haislip Jr, and John-Austin Haislip, Katie Smith, Tara Smith, Lyndsay (Kyle) Cartwright, and Dan (Michelle) Jordan; and 5 great grandchildren: Jacob Altheide, Jack Jordan, Sophia Cartwright, Riley Altheide and Cayden Smith. She is also survived by her sister Pamela Frances Bodinus, (Roland), of Arlington Heights, IL, her nephew Robert Bodinus (Sara) and her niece, Dawn Galway (John). She is also survived by her sister-in-law Carol Kullen, and nephews and nieces Karen Stone, Douglas Kullen (Roberta), Nancy Manley (Carl), Jeanne Martinez (Steve), Susie Rardin (Mark Stephens), Peggy Shrum (John Holley). She is also survived by several great-nieces and great-nephews. Nan was an accomplished pianist of 22 years, a piano teacher and vocalist in childhood. As an adult, she sang with the Fairfax Choral Society (FCS) Chorus and Chorale for 25 years, serving also as a charter member of the incorporated FCS Board of Directors. She was an elementary and middle school teacher (reading specialist) in Fairfax County for over 21 years. She taught at Stone Elementary, Longfellow Intermediate and Rachel Carson Middle School where she retired in 2005.  After retirement she continued to home tutor special needs students in reading and writing up until December 2016. She was also a 15-year member and past President of Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Sorority for Outstanding Women Educators. She loved working with children. Her heart for those she loved, especially her family and friends, was extraordinary. Her gift and passion for teaching (and rescuing those whom society had left behind) impacted so many students. She enriched the lives of everyone she met and encouraged them to believe in themselves. She delighted in simple yet beautiful things, blooms on her orchids, gorgeous sunsets, boat rides, toes in the ocean, wind chimes at the lake, a call from a friend, hello and goodbye kisses from her husband and family. Her Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, VA. Visitation with family at 1:00pm, Service at 2:00pm with reception following.  Internment will be at Oakridge Cemetery, Hillside, IL at a future date TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to: CACS (Capital Area Carcinoid Survivors) - please mail donations to Sally Wallace, 5323 Stonington Drive, Fairfax, VA. 22033. Checks can be made out to CACS. Fairfax Choral Society -- Nanette Altheide Memorial Fund - please mail donations to Fairfax Choral Society, 4028 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003, or www.fairfaxchoralsociety.org/donations. Note on  check: Nan Altheide Memorial Fund. Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Sorority for Outstanding Women Educators. Memorial contributions can be mailed to Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship Foundation, Virginia Scholarship Fund, c/o Laura Bourgeois, Executive Director, 1615 W 92nd St., Kansas City, MO 64114. Checks made out to Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship Foundation, note on check: Virginia Scholarship Fund/Nan Altheide.