Melanie Peoples poses with her husband, Darral, who died of a heart attack exactly two months before his wife. The two leave behind four kids and two grandkids.

An English teacher at a central Indiana high school died unexpectedly earlier this week in China while helping chaperone a school field trip there during spring break.

Kokomo (Indiana) School Corporation Superintendent Jeff Hauswald said Wednesday Melanie Peoples, 49, died in her sleep from natural causes late Monday, which was early Tuesday morning in China.

Peoples, who taught at Kokomo High School (KHS), was on a school field trip with around 12 students and two other school administrators at the time of her death, he said. The group, made up of seventh through 10th graders, was visiting Anshan, China — the home of KHS’s sister school — about 50 miles southwest of Shenyang in the eastern part of the country.

Hauswald said Peoples had travelled to 10 different countries as part of the school’s international-baccalaureate program, as well as other countries on private trips.

“Clearly, she lived life to the fullest and her students had even richer educational experiences because of her passion for teaching and for helping students make connections to the world in which they live,” he said.

Peoples had been an English teacher at the high school for four years. Before that, she taught English at a local middle school for 14 years.

Diaine Herrington, an aunt to Peoples, said the family is currently working with Chinese authorities to return her body to the U.S. She said they’re in contact with the U.S. embassy there to make arrangements, but no timeline has been set.

Meanwhile, the students and staff will finish their trip and return back to Kokomo this weekend as planned. Hauswald said one of the administrators on the trip is a counselor, who will ensure students are cared for.

Peoples’ passing comes exactly two months after the unexpected death of her 64-year-old husband, Darral, who died Feb. 4 from a heart attack. The couple, who lived in Macy, Indiana, leaves behind four children and two grandchildren.

“It’s been really, really hard,” Herrington said. “It’s so unexpected. She didn’t have any health issues, so we didn’t expect this to happen at all.”

The news of Peoples’ death brought an outpouring of support and sympathy from former students and friends on Facebook, where many shared their memories of learning from Peoples in the classroom.

Kristina Tracy, who said on Facebook she had her as a teacher for the first two years of high school, said Peoples loved and believed in every one of her students.

“She taught us how to be students and writers, but most of all how to love learning,” she said. “We’ll never forget you Mrs. Peoples. Thank you for the impact you’ve made on so many of our lives.”

Herrington said she’s also received hundreds of phone calls, emails and text messages from Peoples’ former students, including the ones she taught in Louisiana, where she was born and raised.

She said Peoples, whose mother, sister and aunt were all teachers, taught all her life in Louisiana until her husband was transferred to Kokomo. Soon after, she landed a job at the school.

“Teaching was in her blood,” Herrington said. “She loved it. She went far beyond and above. I think that was instilled in her by her mom.”

Hauswald agreed. He said Peoples was a passionate teacher who enjoyed her work and took her subject seriously.

“She was a gifted teacher who brought not only a passion for literature and poetry, but also a passion for educating students and helping them understand and appreciate the subject that was her specialty,” he said.

Hauswald said school officials are working on a staffing plan to cover Peoples’ classroom for the remainder of the year, but nothing has been decided.

Students and staff are currently on spring break. When school resumes on Monday, counselors will be available for any student who wants to talk, he said.

Hauswald also noted that the family has requested any donations made in Peoples’ honor be sent to the Kokomo Public Education Foundation, which helps fund teachers and projects at the city’s schools.

“Her family understood her passion for teaching,” he said. “I think that speaks highly of her and her family.”

Gerber writes for the Kokomo, Indiana Tribune.