DR. NANCY LYNN HUTCHINSON

(née Holts) March 19, 1949 – July 11, 2025 Nancy lived a full and rich life. She was passionate about her family, friends, teaching, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. As an academic, her influence was felt by many and her impact will ripple on. When Nancy was diagnosed with cancer, she said that she was determined to "live well with cancer," and she did, filling every day with joy and gratitude. Nancy will be deeply missed by her daughter, Jennifer Hutchinson; her siblings, Debra Holts, Jim Holts, and Sandy Lulashnyk (Les); nephews, Kelly Lulashnyk (Taylor) and Rob Lulashnyk (Taylor), and their daughter, Noelle; extended family, dear friends, wonderful neighbours, long-time colleagues, and former students. Born in Pembroke, Ontario, to Ailene (Kelly) and Eldad Holts, Nancy had a carefree childhood, playing outdoors, gardening, enjoying family picnics, spending time on her grandparents' farm, and watching CFL football. Nancy attended Highview School and Pembroke Collegiate Institute, where she learned to debate (sometimes too much according to her teachers), was introduced to Shakespeare and the Stratford Festival, and came to love learning. Nancy started at Queen's University in 1967 in mathematics. After one year, she transferred to Trent University, where she studied educational and social psychology. Soon after graduation from Trent in 1971, Nancy married Jim Hutchinson and moved to Dorval, Quebec, where their daughter, Jennifer, was born. She completed her MA in educational psychology and Dip Ed at McGill and began her teaching career. In 1978, Nancy, Jim, and Jennifer moved to Regina, and Nancy started the resource room program at Balfour Technical School, then taught special education courses at the University of Regina. Nancy and Jim separated in 1982 and Nancy moved to Vancouver, where she completed her PhD at Simon Fraser in 1986. In 1987, Nancy returned to Queen's University, this time as a faculty member in the Faculty of Education. Nancy met Hugh Munby at Queen's and they formed a long-time partnership from 1987 until 2012, during which time Nancy enjoyed getting to know his children, Greg and Stephanie, and more recently, Stephanie's son, Julian. Over Nancy's 28-year academic career at Queen's, she was passionate about teaching courses in special education and educational psychology and collaborating with colleagues in the areas of inclusive education and workplace learning. Nancy particularly enjoyed supervising and supporting graduate students. Nancy retired in 2015 after a fulfilling career, which included many highlights such as co-authoring textbooks, serving as Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Research, and being honoured with the Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision. In retirement, Nancy spent time travelling, gathering with family at Greens Lake and Texas, hiking in Algonquin, gardening in her courtyard, weekends in Stratford, and road trips to CFL games and Grey Cups. Nancy spent these years making wonderful memories with family and friends. Nancy was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. She lived well with cancer for over six years, treating each new day as a gift and inspiring us all. Nancy was grateful to her close-knit family for their friendship and support throughout this time and was thankful to her friends and neighbours for all the backyard breakfasts, homemade bread, walks by the lake, grocery drop offs, patio lunches, and constant encouragement. She greatly appreciated the care that she received from Dr. Elena Park, nurse practitioners, Jan Giroux and Alex Stewart, and the team in the Cancer Centre at Kingston General Hospital. Nancy considered it a blessing to spend her last days with the compassionate palliative care team at Providence Care Hospital. Nancy will be buried in her family plot in Peterborough, and a celebration of life will be held in Kingston in the fall. If you wish, donations in Nancy's memory may be made to the Kingston Food Bank www.kingstonfoodbank.ca or University Hospitals Kingston Foundation in support of Kingston Health Sciences Centre - Cancer Centre www.uhkf.ca/donate Online memories and condolences may be left at www.cataraquicemetery.ca.