Obituary

Nancy Lewis, obituary

Tue, 03/03/2015 - 11:15am

SOUTH THOMASTON — Nancy K. Lewis, 80, succumbed to breast cancer on March 1, 2015. She was diagnosed in March 2011.

Nancy was born March 7, 1934, in Bridgeport, Conn., the daughter of Edward and Doris Ward Knopf. She was raised in Trumbull, Conn., the oldest of four children. Nancy graduated in 1957 from Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing.

Nancy and family moved to Maine in 1970 from Newtown, Conn., and was employed by Knox County General Hospital; then Penobscot Bay Medical Center, where she retired after 28 years of service. After retiring from PBMC, Nancy attended Marquette University School of Nursing in Wisconsin and received her accreditation as a parish nurse in 2000. She worked for Rockland Congregational Church for 15 years as the area's first parish nurse, until retiring from that position due to her illness.

Nancy was an active member of Knox County Nurses Guild, served on the PenBay Continuity of Care Committee as well as the Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care & Hospice PAC committee. Nancy served on the board for the Rockland District Nurses Association, and served 28 years on the Knox County Federal Credit Union board, including 10 years as chairman of the board.

A longtime and active member of Rockland Congregational Church, Nancy taught Sunday school, was a member of the Chancel Choir and the Timbrel Ringers Handbell Choir. While very busy with her nursing career and her many church and community activities, nothing was more important to Nancy than time with her family. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her joy and she would never miss an opportunity to be at family gatherings, from holidays to picnics to her grandchildren's sporting events. "Grammie" attended every game she could and cheered vigorously. Her unconditional love and support of her entire family is her true legacy.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents; as well as her sister, Lucy Knopf of Trumbull, Conn. She is survived by her brothers, Daniel Knopf and his wife, Margaret, of Addison, N.Y., and Richard Knopf and wife, Zina, of Stratford, Conn.; her two sons, Mark Lewis and his wife, Lauren, of Thomaston, and Todd Lewis and his wife, Jill, of Walpole, Mass.; her three daughters, Susan Lewis Baines and her husband, Robert, of South Thomaston, Tracey Lewis Morrill and her husband, Casey, of South Thomaston, and Renee Lewis Heal and her husband, Steven, of West Rockport; her 11 grandchildren, Elisa Brye Lewis, Jessica Baines, Clayton Baines, Raquel Traniello, Dominick Morrill, Kayla Wood, Maci Heal, Andy Lewis, Lucas Morrill, Estee Lewis and Meredith Lewis; and two great-grandchildren, Maddux Morrill and Owen McKinney; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to visit Friday, March 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in  Rockland. A celebration of Nancy's life will be held Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. at Rockland Congregational Church. The Rev. Seth Jones will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, Nancy requests donations be made to the Rockland District Nurses Association, P.O. Box 713, Rockland, ME 04841, or the Knox County Nurses Guild Scholarship Fund, C/O Janet Watkinson, P.O. Box 341, Owls Head, ME 04854.