Dear Beth and Family of Nancy,

Words can never express the beauty, love, compassion and determination of my sister friend Nancy! Her smile lit up the room  whenever you saw her and her kind words made you smile even on days when she was not feeling well. Her faith was strong and her determination to help those in need through the Food Pantry Ministry that she and Beth  initiated at the Church of Our Saviour, will forever be remembered as one of her legacies. It is comforting to know that her work on this earth was completed with wonderful results and now she is resting in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. 

Peace and Love my Sister

Sandra Driggins-Smith 

I am so sorry to hear of Nancy´s departure from this mortal life.  Not sorry for her, as I know she endured so much in recent years and was surely ready for her well deserved rest.  But sorry for all of us who will try to carry on for all the goodness she stood for, without her encouraging presence.  Especially for Beth and for Nancy´s children, I offer my prayers for consolation.  

Nancy and Beth were the instigators of the Food Pantry at Our Saviour/Nuestro Salvador; and they picked up the reins for the annual Secret Santa program for so many families served by the parish, after the founders of that program moved away.  Nancy was always looking for ways to encourage.  She was a bright light for many, and will continue to be a bright light for us all in these difficult days.

Rest eternal grant to her, let light perpetual shine upon her.

Nancy enjoyed playing a trick on occasion!  In England, I was working in my “man shed” and needed a nearby hose pipe. I retrieved  the nozzle end to pull it out to use. Next door neighbor, Nancy, was outside and pulled the hose the other way. Each time I pulled one way, Nancy pulled the other. The more I yanked, the shorter my  hose length got. This REALLY frustrated me (my wife  says I could be SHORT on patience!!) Finally with yanking  harder and harder and using a few ‘descriptive adjectives’- well a lot of those-) I stormed out of the shed and there was Nancy, pretty much doubled over laughing like crazy!! It’s one of our  favorite- yes, even my favorite memories of our crazy-wonderful  next door neighbor,  Nancy!!!

Thinking of my old friend Nancy Kes. Remembering when we met, some 45 years ago, at RAF Lakenheath, England. Young wives and mothers. Most likely one day we coincided as we were calling out for our kiddos playing in the street, trying to corral them…Chriiiissy…Meliiisa…Piiiiety…Gaaabriel….PiiiJ…and Aaamy and Rob…It would have been time to come inside, do homework, practice the piano, whatever. Typically their cooperation with us reluctant at best.

Nancy would call me: “Marrrría”, showing off her R-rolling talent. I would tell “Fine, yes, very impressive “Rrrrr!”.

She would send me telephone “one-ringers”, which were really Nance’s invention/precursor to text-messaging. A quick letting me know that she had something to share but didn’t want to talk just then. If I called her back she would tell me what it was that had prompted the “one-ringer”. Maybe only that she had thought of me for some random reason. Some comment or question. 

But if she called 4:30’ish pm and ask if I knew what time it was, the expected answer, the answer she wanted, was: “It’s Martini Time!” Followed by: “On my way!” Or: “Yes, come over now!” And: “Calling LL!”.

Gosh so many sweet, fun memories.

I would call her “Mi amiga del alma.” She told me she liked that.

Hasta siempre amiga del alma mía.