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NANCY (HOWARD) HATCH
ROCKLEDGE, Fla. — Nancy (Howard) Hatch, 77, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. She went peacefully, surrounded by her son and her lifelong friend, in Hospice Care in Rockledge, Fla.
Nancy was born in St. Albans, the daughter of Malcolm and Beulah (French) Howard, and was raised in Fairfax where she graduated from Bellows Free Academy in 1953. She moved to Worcester, Mass., to attend Becker Junior College, graduating with an associates degree in business. Prior to starting a f amily, she worked for Devonshire Bank and Shawmut Bank in Worcester, Mass. Once her sons were grown, she worked as a municipal secretary for the Department of Public Works in Westborough, Mass. She retired from there in 1994, when her first granddaughter was born.
She was married to Richard I. Hatch in 1956, and raised two sons in Westborough, Mass. She leaves behind her sons, David and wife, Dawn, of Garden Ridge, Texas, and Douglas and wife, Dorothy “Dee,“ of Grafton, Mass.; granddaughters, Olivia and Abigail Hatch of Grafton, Mass.; and two stepgrandchildren, Michael Ashley and wife, Jessica, of Grafton, Mass., and Colton Chapman of Garden Ridge, Texas. She is also survived by her lifelong friend, Margaret “Peggy“ Wright of Melbourne, Fla.; cousin, Gordon French of Towanda, Pa.; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends.
Nancy was an exceptionally dedicated mother, grandmother and friend. She was very devoted to her churches, The First United Methodist Church of Westborough, Mass., and later, Georgiana United Methodist Church of Merritt Island, Fla. She and her husband, Richard, relocated to Melbourne, Fla., in 1998.
The family wishes to thank the Dr. Jey Pellai Center for Hospice Care at Wasdin Woods in Rockledge, Fla., for the wonderful and loving care they provided during her time with them.
There will be a memorial service at the church Nancy loved, Georgiana Methodist Church, 3925 S. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, Fla., at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in Westborough, Mass, at a later date. You may sign Nancy’s guest book at www.beckmanwilliamson. com (http://www.beckmanwilliamson. com).
The family requests that in lieu of flowers gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.
org/gift.
Visit burlingtonfreepress.com/obituaries to express condolences and sign the guest book.