Nancy K Bridges

Nancy Kimball Bridges, affectionately known as NKB, passed away on September 10th, 2025, after 95 delightful years of causing a ruckus, making mischief, loving her family, helping her community, and generally being what you would call a Spitfire. Born in Belchertown, MA on Valentine’s Day in 1930, Nancy was the 4th child of William and Pearl Kimball. Nancy spent many wonderful years in Belchertown, attending Belchertown schools, working at the state school and having her first two children. Later, Nancy moved to New Jersey where she continued to grow her family, work for Consumer Affairs, and leave an impression on everyone she met. After having her 5th child, Nancy returned to Massachusetts where she lived for the rest of her days. Never one to rest, she was known across western Massachusetts as a Continental Cablevision sales rep and sold mobile homes and newspapers. In her later years, she was the Queen of her Red Hat Society, a caretaker and companion to elders in her community, an almost permanent fixture in the gardens at Stanley Park in Westfield, MA, and was a frequent guest at the Southwick Senior Center. There you could find her kicking everyone’s butt in Scrabble, getting everyone riled up, and making every person there laugh until they cried by saying something wildly inappropriate. After the pandemic, Nancy moved to Christopher Heights in Belchertown, MA where she continued to reign supreme at BINGO and Scrabble, enjoyed some cocktails in their bar with her fellow residents, and made several appearances in the newspaper as one of the faces of the assisted living facility. She often had pink hair, pinker lipstick, and fabulously done nails.  She was always ready to joke, smile and maybe ask you a naughty question just to see the look on your face. Nancy was pre-deceased by her parents, William and Pearl Kimball, her three brothers William, Payson, and David Kimball, and her beloved little sister Joan Holloway. She is survived by her daughter Tina Varzeas of Mattapoisett, MA, son Kenneth Varzeas of Aztec NM, son Clayton Bridges of Chichester NY, daughter Tracy Fleming and her husband Steven of Granby, MA, and her son Ben Walker and his wife Jenn of Ware, MA. Her grandchildren, Morgan Varzeas, Clayton Bridges and his wife Lauren, Corinne Corte and her husband Dan, Steven Fleming and his wife Michelle, Lyndsey Fleming, Caleb Varzeas, and Oliver Maher, her great-grandchildren, Nolan and Julian Corte, and Bennett Bridges and her surrogate daughter Heidi Kimball of Belchertown, MA. They will miss her sassiness, wild sense of humor, ability to stir up trouble and make everything interesting, her liberal use of emojis when texting, her excellent hugs, and the never-ending love and support she provided her entire family. Nancy was one of a kind. Ninety-five years still doesn’t feel long enough. Services will be held at O’Brien Family Funeral Home on 33 Lamb St. South Hadley, MA on September 19th, 2025 from 4:00-5:30pm. In lieu of flowers please consider making donations to the Native American Heritage Association at www.naha-inc.org.