Obituary : Nancy C. Richards
Nancy Church Richards died peacefully on Sunday, May 17, at her West Tisbury home. She was 83. Nancy was born on September 7, 1925 in Batavia, N.Y. to Oliver Alden and Olive (Grant) Church. Nancy was a graduate of Batavia High School class of 1942. She attended La Salle Junior College in Auburndale, and was a graduate of the University of Rochester, School of Nursing in 1946.
Nancy found an ad - "R.N. Wanted; small rural hospital on Martha's Vineyard; write for further details." And so she did. She had her R.N., the war was over, and adventure was in the air. She prepared her car for the trip and happened to look at a map before she left and discovered that Martha's Vineyard was an island. One week after arriving she went to a dance at the American Legion Hall and met her future husband, Stan Richards. Nancy and Stan shared 61 years of marriage together before his death this past January.
Nancy devoted 35 years to Martha's Vineyard Hospital, spending the last 15 years as head nurse of Acute Care. She retired in 1981. Nancy was a past member of the Vineyard Haven board of health. She was a den mother for Pack 91. A history "buff," she read hundreds of history-based novels. Nancy enjoyed growing vegetables and making pickles. She had a huge garden and entered her vegetables in the Ag Fair, winning several hundred awards, out-competing the commercial farmers. Nancy loved the water, boating and especially fishing, spending many evenings on the Middle Ground trying to catch flounder. She also had her "own" clam bed at the Tashmoo lake house in Vineyard Haven, where they lived for 25 years. Every year she made the most delicious homemade quahog chowder.
Nancy is survived by a son, Stanton Grant Richards and daughter-in-law Suzanne; a daughter, Ann Tilton Richards, and two grandchildren, Heather and Amy Richards.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 30, at 2 pm in the Abel's Hill Cemetery on South Road in Chilmark, officiated by Don Lyons.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 2568, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.
Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.
