How sad and shocking to lose Nancy so suddenly! I met Nancy on September 14, 1958. We entered the convent on the same day, both young and still in our teens! Nancy and I grew to be friends and shared in doing many projects, even developing a workbook for incoming new members! And I remember how we typed out songs for the elderly sisters for a sing-along one Christmas. We were typing from old German script and when we sang those songs, we learned that we had gotten some letters wrong when the sisters laughed heartily at what we typed!
I felt so sad when Nancy left the community. Our friendship didn't end there, however; it was the kind of friendship where we could immediately pick up and get Into a deep conversation when we hadn't seen one another for a long time. Of course, I got to meet and love Harry, too, and both Nancy and Harry became Associates with our Congregation. Then the three of us and five or six other sisters were part of a group that met to share meals and prayer almost monthly for several years.
Nancy is the person who encouraged me to go into consulting. Right after she got her degree in Organization Development, she said, "Lois, I think you ought to do this too. It would fit you and your abilities." And I followed her advice! After I got that degree, she coached me through several consulting sessions. Although my direction has been different from hers, I have been consulting for 25 years. I'm so grateful to her because she got me started on this road.
As I read all the loving stories from Nancy's family and friends, I again feel deeply the pain of her loss. Dear Harry, Becky, Terri, Steve and Lisa, and grandchildren, and Nancy's dear brothers, I can't imagine your pain. I am so very grateful that Nancy was part of my life and now I celebrate with you all of her life that was so well lived!