SCHANDALL

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, October. 23, 2024, in the season of clear skies and bright leaves, our beautiful, beloved, and indomitable Nancy, went to the sun and moon and stars, and to the flowers, the grass and all living things.

Born May. 22, 1942 in Framingham. Massachusetts, Nancy grew up there and in Connecticut. She graduated from East Hartford High School in June 1959 and then trained and worked as an LPN while also studying art and music. While living in Boston she met David, and they married on July 12, 1966. Young and strong, and with a six-month-old daughter, they purchased an abandoned fisherman's house at Cole Harbour, Guysborough Co., Nova Scotia in 1967.  David fished for cod, Nancy washed diapers in the stream running into the harbour, chinked the cracks in the walls with yarn, learned to cook on a wood stove, carried water from the well, experienced the use of outdoor plumbing, and attempted to grow vegetables in hard clay soil between the rocks. After five years, and now with a son as complement to the daughter, they moved to Canso Town at the extremity of the mainland. In 1978 Nancy graduated with honours from St. Martha's School of Nursing, earning her RN, and subsequently working at Eastern Memorial Hospital.

In 1982, after 15 years on the eastern shore, the family moved to Dartmouth, leaving behind so many good friends, neighbors and indelible memories of a time that is no more. In Dartmouth, the children completed secondary education and Nancy worked at the VG Hospital and for the VON. While living in Dartmouth Nancy studied part time at Dalhousie, subsequently earning a Bachelor of Nursing Degree in 1988. In her "spare" time she took music and drawing lessons. She completed her career at the NS Hospital working in community outreach.

After Nancy's retirement she and David built a life and a house by the water in Lunenburg. Nancy cleared alders and small trees with her bow saw, oversaw the initial construction of the house, pushed the lawnmower, and joined the community, ensuring continuity while David was required to return to sea periodically for work. Nancy continued to pursue musical interests and was an active member of Bridgewater's FUN Ukulele Jam Community. Nancy was also civically engaged with local volunteer, political and grass roots organizations including cherished membership with the Raging and Sage Grannies. Above all, Nancy embraced her role of loving, caring and nurturing granny to her own grandchildren, and united her families’ and friends’ lives with optimism, warmth, and wisdom.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents John Holland and Claire (Rourke) Holland and her sister Cynthia Kohne (Ken).  She is survived by her husband David Schandall, her children Kristen Smith and Bjarni Schandall (Leonie), her grandchildren Sebastian, Claire, Willow, Fiona and Isobel, and her sisters Marcia Ribera and Jacqueline Paradis.

A graveside ceremony was held at Second Peninsula Cemetery, Tuesday 29 October at 12 p.m., Pastor Rick Pryce officiating.

The family would like to sincerely thank the South Shore Regional Hospital and Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital emergency room staff, and the VON and South Shore Area Palliative Care 

Services for their excellent care and attention.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Nancy can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.