Nadine “Noodles” Reeves peacefully slipped the painful bonds of life and pancreatic cancer to take her place in heaven on August 7, 2006 in Phoenix Arizona. Nadine had been a long time resident of Oak Harbor.

She was surrounded by her lifelong love and husband of nearly 51 years, John D. Reeves, her only daughter, Kathleen Reeves, and Kathleen’s companion, Angela Strollo. Her only granddaughter, Heather Dawn Jenkins had just spoken to the family from Baghdad, Iraq, and the prayers of a host of friends and family filled the room as her soul took flight.

Nadine was born and raised in Denver, Colo., where she met and married Johnny in 1955. Their daughter Kathy joined them the following year. When John joined the Navy, Nadine began her career as a Navy wife. They traveled the world, and lived in California, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Texas before settling in Oak Harbor for the last 12 years of Navy life, and remained there another 12 years after retirement. At each duty station, she maintained their home and sustained the family with her love and guidance, and always found time to sew, play bingo, work on crafts, and get in as much bowling as possible. Each time they moved, she managed to keep in contact with more friends, while she was busy making new ones.

She loved the island, and the people there, and was active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, serving multiple terms as the Chaplain. It was always her way to care more about others than herself, and many Oak Harbor residents will remember having seen her around and about.

In 2000, Nadine and John moved to Las Vegas. She loved being able to go to the casino almost every day to play her slots!

Nadine’s illness was discovered in September of last year, but did not deter her from her sewing and fabric painting. As the cancer took its toll, she could still be found sitting at her daughter’s kitchen table, painting towels, T-shirts, and anything else that needed a little color. Johnny, Kathy, and Kathy’s long time companion Ange lovingly cared for Nadine in Kathy’s home in Phoenix for the last five months of Nadine’s precious life, along with the wonderful professionals at Mayo Clinic Hospital, and later Hospice of the Valley. The end was loving, gentle, and joyful, holding Johnny and Kathy’s hands.

Noodles, as she was known by her grandchildren, and many friends, is survived by her husband John D. Reeves, her daughter Kathleen Reeves (Ange), sister Barbara Allen (Bill Dunaway), granddaughter Army Specialist Heather Dawn Jenkins (Chris) and great grandchildren Adrianna, D’Angelo, and Enrique, and two nephews, Eric and Kevin Masters.

Visitation will be held at Hansen Chapel, 8314 N. 7th St., Phoenix, Ariz., from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 13. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Monday, August 14, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 330 W. Coral Gables, Phoenix. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery in Cave Creek, Ariz., at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to one of Nadine’s special charities, St. Jude’s Hospital for children.