Leslie A. Jensen

Leslie Arden Jensen, a strong, loving, fearless and independent woman, passed away peacefully on May 15th, 2025 at the age of 73. 

Born on February 14th, 1952 in Albany, New York, Leslie lived life to the fullest, using her incredible resilience and work ethic. Holding only a high school diploma, she carved out a remarkable career that took her across the United States and abroad, proving that determination, intelligence, and grit can matter more than degrees. Leslie started her civil service career as a GS2 employee in the early 1980s in Mogadishu, Somalia. Leslie worked her way up through different agencies including USIA and NSF, before retiring from FLETC as a GS14 in St Simons Island, GA. Leslie was very proud of her career in Civil Service; she retired as a very well known and respected part of the civil service workforce. 

The thing she loved being the most was Granna, she did not want to be called Grandma and chose Granna and even her friends called her that once they got to know her well. Granna was a boy mom and took that role by the horns early. She was the first Cub Scout leader in the Country of Somalia and likely the only one. She was the team mom on every sports team she could be, played catch, healed wounds, and gave tips to both Robert and Brian and every other neighbor boy who she treated like her own. After raising boys for so long, she absolutely adored spoiling her first five grandchildren, all being girls, which included two sets of twins. She took her grandkids around the country, spoiling them with fancy hotel rooms, home cooked meals, and lots of shopping trips. Whether near or far Granna was always ready to drop whatever she was doing and sacrifice everything for her Sons and Grandchildren. 

Though her biological family was states away, she made friends who became her family. She loved to play cards, have dinner, share a glass of wine (sometimes maybe a bottle), laugh, cry, and so much more with them. She spent her retirement in St. Simons Island, GA, loving every second of beach time, shopping on the pier, getting to know the shop owners, and never forgetting to stop and get ice cream. 

Granna dealt with a debilitating disease for over a decade, not once letting it deter her from whatever she wanted to do. Through this she met Dana, who started as a caretaker and became an adopted daughter to her. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Christopher Dykes, as well as her sister, Jesse Rennaker, and her brother, Thomas Farrahy. 

She is survived by her sons Brian (wife Sarah) and Robert (wife Jennifer), as well as seven grandchildren, Nadiah, Sarah, Emily, Alexandra, Samantha, Kannon, and Ezra. She is also survived by her niece and nephews Melissa Galamay, Kyle Valery, and Corey Rennaker, brother-in-law, Phillip Rennaker, as well as brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Mary Dykes. 

Celebration of Life to be held in late Summer 2025 in Georgia.

Though her journey on Earth has ended, Leslie's Spirit Will continue to inspire those who were lucky enough to know her.

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