Nancy M. Tooker

Nancy M. Tooker, 54, of Devon, PA, died peacefully on March 28, 2013 of complications from colon cancer. She is survived by her husband, Dr. John Tooker, two sons, Graham. M. Tooker and Evan L. Tooker, her brother Paul G. McIntire of Fredericksburg, VA and seven nephews. Nancy was born in Portland, ME on October 29, 1958, the daughter of Clarence E. and Virginia Goodrich McIntire. An excellent student and athlete, she graduated from Deering High School in Portland in 1977, where she excelled in swimming, winning the state championship and setting the Maine state record in the 50 meter freestyle. She then attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Following graduation from nursing school, she began her nursing career at the Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME, where she practiced surgical and critical care nursing. While at Maine Medical Center, she met and married Dr. John Tooker in 1988. She became a cardiology research nurse, serving as a study coordinator in an early trial of clot dissolving drugs in patients with heart attacks, balancing her nursing career with raising a family after the birth of her two sons, Graham and Evan. In 1995, the family moved to Devon, PA, where she lived until her death. She was a wonderful mother and wife, and very involved with her children in all of their school and other activities. She was a great friend and companion of her mother, Virginia (Ginny) McIntire, who lived with the family until her death in 2012. Nancy and her mother were excellent cooks and enjoyed cooking together - she honored her mother by authoring a cookbook of favorite family recipes, which she published in 2012. Nancy will be dearly missed by her family. After moving to PA, Nancy maintained her Maine roots with family and friends, enjoying returning each summer to Great Diamond Island in Casco Bay. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service on Thursday, April 4, at 10 am at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA, with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Nancy's name to "The Abramson Cancer Center's Colon Cancer Research and Patient Care Fund", checks being payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St. Ste 750, Philadelphia PA, 19104 or www.penncancer.org or The Maine Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, 14 Maine Street, Suite 401 Brunswick, Maine 04011. Arrangements under the care of Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home www.chadwickmckinney.com