Nancy Cooke VanTuyl

1933 - 2021

VanTuyl, Nancy Cooke EAST GREENBUSH On April 29, 2021, Nancy Van Tuyl died at the Evergreen Commons Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in East Greenbush. Nancy was born in Springfield, Mass. on July 28, 1933, to Frederick Turner and Ruth M. (Van Tuyl) Cooke - also known as Grandma Peg and Cookie. She graduated from Classical High School in Springfield, and from Springfield College with a B.S. in English education. Nancy had a very diverse career path. She retired from GlaxoSmith Kline, N.C. as a medical data scientist in 1995; was a nut and bolt systems salesperson for Ellison Products in Upstate New York; a school bus driver, life guard, car salesperson, and German Deli employee - just to name a few. Nancy was very active in Girl Scouts and YMCA work. She was a Juliette Low awardee, traveling to Adelboden, Switzerland in 1950 to receive the award. The Chalet is featured on a girl scout cookie to this day. Throughout Nancy's life, she was an ongoing crafter; broom maker; English, folk and contra dancer and mountain dulcimer enthusiast. Nancy was always smiling and willing to help others. She was never idle, always dancing a jig. She loved ice cream, ginger snaps; and never met a piece of candy she didn't like. She always had a Starlight peppermint in her pants pocket. Those left to cherish her memory are her four children, Virginia (Robert) Gregg of Medfield, Mass., Douglas (Cheryl) Ewart of Waldoboro, Maine, Christopher (Nancy) Ewart of Schenectady and Betsy (Michael) Wykes of Schenectady; eight grandchildren, Jason Ewart, Caresse Ewart (Ryan Bouck), Kimberly (Chris) Pelletier, Jenny Lu (Zack) Michaud, Alisa Kidney, Ryan (Walter) Herderich, Jamie Wykes and Valerie Wykes; and six great-grandchildren, Cameron, David, Hunter, Anastasia, Finn and Jace. Nancy is also survived by her sister Polly (Brock) Downward of Raleigh, N.C. as well as niece Gail (Robert) McWithey. A memorial service will be announced at a future date. In lieu of flowers, Nancy was an animal lover and requested memorial contributions be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY, 12204.