In Memoriam

Born December 18, 1935
Died February 17, 2010

I first met Nancy in 1972. Yes, that’s right, 38 years ago. I was 7.

I can’t tell you how many wonderful memories I have of vacations, camping trips, holidays, summer barbecues, sleepovers, and just plain old conversations I have had those past 38 years.

Nancy taught me how to cross-stitch as a young girl when I would watch her create the most beautiful creations out of thread and cloth. I never did get as good as Nancy. But she was a perfectionist and I don’t think I ever came across anyone who was at good at cross-stitch as she was.

My love of romance books started with Nancy. She used to buy Candlelight Regency romances and I would be in her house and I would pick up the paperback and just start reading. Many of them were gothic as well and I began to love suspense in my romance. I was hooked.

When I was still a teenager and my own parents sold their home to move to Las Vegas (for what turned out to be just a few short years) and I didn’t want to go, Nancy and her husband, Chuck, opened their home to me and allowed me to stay with their family. They did not have to and this was something that I remain forever grateful for.

What seems like just a short time ago, Nancy was diagnosed with lung cancer. She went through treatments and for a while seemed to be doing pretty good considering. But in December she began to feel weaker and she fell and broke her hip just before Christmas. Unfortunately, she never fully recovered and very recently they learned the cancer had spread to her brain.

38 years probably sounds like a long time. It’s not. It’s not nearly long enough.

Rest in peace, Nancy Alice Thomas Mahlmeister.