Photo courtesy of Douglass Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home
Reading, Massachusetts
Jun 9, 1933 – Oct 6, 2023
Nancy J. (Piper) Bodebender passed away peacefully at home on October 6, 2023. She was 90.
Nan was born in Franklin, New Hampshire, to Donald J. and Mary E. (Sayward) Piper. She graduated from Franklin High School, attended Westbrook Junior College in Maine, Boston University, and Antioch College New England.
Nan worked as a social worker for the state of New Hampshire, and met her husband, William A. Bodebender, in Portsmouth. After their marriage in 1960, they resided in Groton, CT, then relocated to Reading, Mass.
Nan was interested in art and worked in sales for many years for Grumbacher art supplies, and later, with her husband and friends, for Ergonomic Computer Solutions assessing and supplying solutions for worker health and safety.
During Nan’s life she loved her furry friends, most recently her dog, Missy. Nan was an avid collector of oriental decor and art. She was interested in world events, history, and literature, and had a large collection of books.
She enjoyed a wide variety of music including coffeehouse, opera, symphony, and her husband’s Greek music playing the bouzouki and banjo. Nan also loved attending Greek festivals and craft fairs. Nan attended the Unitarian Universalist churches in Reading and Wakefield.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and by her brother D. Kurt Piper.
Nan leaves her brother David S. Piper and his wife Janie of Tilton, NH; her sister Suzanne Blackburn and her husband Gregory of Hilton Head, SC; sisters-in-law Margery A. Piper and Kathleen D. Piper of New Hampshire. She also leaves nieces and nephews Kimberly P. Baker, Timothy K. Piper, Jaime S. Fontanazza, Todd D. Piper, and Ryan Blackburn; and several grand-nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held at the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St (corner of Woburn St.), Reading on Thursday afternoon October 19, 2023 from 2 to 4 pm with a celebration of life to follow at 4pm. Burial will be private.
David and Janie would like to thank the following for their love and devotion to Nan during her last years: Caroline, Angela, Patrick, Fran, and her longtime friends and neighbors, especially to John and John for their care of Missy.
Read MoreI am so sad to hear of Nan's passing. I remember visiting Nan several times as a child with my mother and have very fond memories of running around her home, eating monkey bread and learning about her musical instruments. I'll never forget those trips and how kind she was.
Haley Watson
October 25, 2023 | Richmond, VA | Friend
David and Janie, We would like to send our condolences to you and the entire family on the loss of your sister. May all the memories of her help you through this time
The Atherton’s
October 13, 2023 | Tilton, NH
This book of memories is to serve as a record of the services you entrusted to us. We hope it will help to preserve treasured memories and that we, in some small measure, have helped to ease your burden and bring you comfort.
John B. Douglass & John B. Douglass II
October 12, 2023 | Reading, MA
