Nancy Ford

1931 - 2023

Nancy Redway Ford died peacefully surrounded by her family in the early hours of Mother's Day, May 14, 2023.

Born Oct. 22, 1931 in Hartford, CT, she was the eldest child of Albert and Idell (Godard) Redway. Along with her brother, Albert, she was raised in Warehouse Point, CT where she attended local schools until entering Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, from which she graduated in 1949. Her love of children led her to a BA degree in Psychology from Wheaton College in Norton, MA in 1953 and in later years a master's in special education from Framingham State University. On June 20, 1953 she married her high school sweetheart, Willard Ford, of West Hartford, CT and moved to Watertown, MA where Will began his 40-year career with Raytheon Company. She followed in her father's footsteps as a teacher and began her first teaching position at Belmont Day School in Belmont, MA and following their move to Sudbury, MA in 1957 she began teaching in the Sudbury Public Schools. She taught second grade there for three years, leaving in 1960 when their first child was due. She took time to raise her three children and then returned in 1978 as a Special Education teacher where she worked with children from kindergarten through fifth grade. While living in Sudbury, Nan was active in the Sudbury United Methodist Church where she served on several commissions, was co-superintendent of Sunday School for six years, and served on the board of Sunny Hill Preschool. She also served on the board of directors of the Sudbury Cooperative Preschool. Nan was a Girl Scout leader, a den mother, and a member of the board and subsequently chair of the Student Exchange Program at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School. Nan loved music, was a voracious reader, enjoyed all sports events, and played tennis and golf. She also loved to do handwork of every kind. She traveled with Will and her family extensively both in this country and abroad, living in both England and Denmark for periods of time. Upon retiring in 1993 they renovated and moved to a beach home in Westbrook, CT where Nan had spent summers as a child and where she and Will met as children in 1938. She continued her involvement in church, this time at the Westbrook Congregational Church where she served as a deacon for six years and chaired several committees. She was trained in the Stephen Ministry first as a minister and then as a leader. She was also an active member of the PEO sisterhood for many years and served as an officer in several positions. In 2011 Nan and Will moved to Essex Meadows, a retirement community in Essex, CT where she lived until her death. Nan was preceded in death by her dearly loved husband, Will, in 2016. She leaves a daughter Lisa and husband Dr. Kimo Hirayama of Seattle, WA; a son Lawrence Ford and wife Yvette of Tampa Bay, FL; a daughter Katherine and husband Jim Gakis of Marlborough, MA; grandchildren Dr. Kai and his wife Hannah as well as Kian Hirayama, Alexa, Chandler, and Sage Ford, Chancie and Josh Montgomery, and Sophia, Elena, Katina, and Theo Gakis. She also leaves a sister-in-law Corinne Redway and a brother-in-law Norris Ford, both of Westbrook, CT as well as a sister-in-law Alyce and her husband Dr. David Hild also of Westbrook and Bloomfield, CT. Nancy's priority in life was always her faith, her family, and her friends. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at the Westbrook Congregational Church on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Westbrook Congregational Church, 1166 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, CT 06498 or the Essex Meadows Scholarship Fund, 30 Bokum Rd., Essex, CT 06426.