Nancy Jane GROSSMITH

1952 - 2022

SERGEANT NANCY JANE GROSSMITH September 2, 1952 - August 29, 2022 Peacefully at her home in Port Rowan, Ontario Nancy was born in Toronto, and spent her youth in Etobicoke, where she attended Scarlett Heights Collegiate. Nancy had an early interest in a police career, which landed her a job as a store detective at Towers while attending a Law Enforcement course at Humber College. So it was no surprise to her friends and family that she went on to be one of the first of ten female constables hired by the Ontario Provincial Police in 1974, as her photo donned the front page of the Globe and Mail. She was initially stationed in Bracebridge for seven years and then transferred to Caledon for 23 years before retiring in 2004. Described by her OPP colleagues as 'a trailblazer who led the way for all other young women,' 'a true pioneer who kept up with any guy,' along with being 'the real deal' and 'tough as nails,' shows the dedication Nancy had to service. Nancy was blessed with a distinctive laugh that could be heard and recognized from a distance and she used it often when she wasn't playing music. And yes, she was an avid Beatles fan who knew every word to every Beatles song. She attended both Beatles concerts held in 1964 and 1966, at Maple Leaf Gardens (when tickets cost less than $5.00). She will be profoundly missed by her sister Suzanne Sheppard (Simon); brother Glen (Gail); and many nephews and nieces and grandnephews and nieces, including Tara Mowatt (Calvin), Adam Sheppard (Helen) and Conor, Emily, Mia, Tyler, Haley, Leah and Mark. She will be greatly missed by her good friends Janice Kneeshaw and Joanne Pickard, who were always there for her and had many wonderful memories and many laughs together. To honour Nancy's life and career the family wishes donations to be made to the OPP youth foundation. Website oppyouthfoundation.ca. A celebration of Nancy's life will be held on November 5, 2022, in Toronto, in which Beatles music will be played loudly and stories will be shared.