Dr. Jeanette Charles Hartshorn's Obituary
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Dr. Jeanette Charles Hartshorn, 72, who sadly passed away in her home on Friday, January 13th 2023, surrounded by her loved ones, after a long fight with brain cancer. She was everything to so many people – beloved nurse practitioner, sister, friend, “second mother” to many, aunt, and most importantly an amazing role model and mother to her two children.
She was born on September 13th 1950 to Charles and Jean Vinck at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette Illinois, class of 1968, she went on to receive her baccalaureate degrees in psychology and nursing then earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in nursing. Before assuming the Executive Director position at the Telehealth Center UTMB in 2001, she served as a professor of nursing and in Associate Dean roles at the UTMB School of Nursing and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. In those leadership roles, she was responsible for developing innovative and successful nursing distance education programs.
Professionally, Dr. H had a reputation that proceeded itself, holding certification as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist, she was actively involved in delivering care to adult patients with epilepsy through a nurse-managed clinic at the UTMB Department of Neurology and clinics sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation Texas (EFTX) throughout her career. In 1993, Dr. Hartshorn was one of the founding providers of this very successful clinic program at EFTX and, in 2001, became the Clinic Service Director. She served thousands of uninsured patients to receive compassionate and competent care for their seizures. She was more than a doctor, she was a friend. She traveled to six cities every month to take care of her patients. Many times, working seven days a week just to ensure they received medications in a timely matter.
To her family, she was described as a woman with unending patience, a best friend and favorite person to be around with her quick wit and uncanny sense of humor. Her home and arms were always open, ready to provide love or support, a second mother to all. She was a place many called home, animals included.
Jeanette was a remarkable woman, an irreplaceable light that shined and lit the path for so many people, leaving behind lasting memories, lots of smiles, and steadfast love.
Preceded in Death By:
Parents, Charles & Jean Vinck;
Former Husband, Edward Hartshorn
Survived By:
Daughters, Amy & Katie Hartshorn;
Step Children, Anita, Todd, Scott & Kent Hartshorn;
Dogs, Sadie Ray Jones, Atuna, Angus & Rooster;
Cat, Karen the Terrorist
Horses, Andrea, Henry & Kevin Hartshorn
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