Nancy Elizabeth Bankds Achenback

Nancy Elizabeth Banks Achenback, 77, of Annapolis, died Aug. 15 from natural causes.

She was born Dec. 5, 1931 to the late Harry and Gladys Banks. She was raised in the Clifton Park section of Baltimore. She graduated from Eastern High School in Baltimore in 1949. She went to Nursing School at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore in 1950 and became a Registered Nurse in 1953. She began her nursing career with Drs. Briscoe and Simms, the first pediatricians in Annapolis, and then went on to a long and fulfilling career as a Pediatric Nurse at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) from 1953 to 2000. During her tenure at AAMC she developed the Hands on Health program for children which is still held today and the Summer Gremlins program. These programs give children the chance to see what a hospital is really like and give them a hands on approach. She touched so many children's and families lives that came through the Pediatric Unit and was well respected as a Pediatric Nurse in the community.

She married her husband, the late James Richard "Dick" Achenback on Sept. 19, 1953, and they lived and raised their family in Admiral Heights. She had a great love for cats, her family and friends. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren and especially going on family vacations to the Outer Banks each summer while Dick was still alive. They sponsored Midshipmen through the Naval Academy Sponsor program and have held season football tickets since the stadium opened.

She was a member of the Ladies of the Elks, BPOE 622, the Union Memorial Alumni Association, Naval Academy Athletic Association and Trinity United Methodist Church. She volunteered at AAMC and served on the Ethics Committee for the City of Annapolis. She was a Girl Scout Leader when her daughters were younger.

Survivors include three daughters, Donna Achenback of Arnold, and Juli Pastrana and Allison Phoebus, both of Annapolis; and five grandchildren, Patrick and Steven Forrester of Arnold, Ryan Pastrana of Burlington, N.C., and Cara and Colin Pastrana of Annapolis.

Family and friends will be received from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St. in Annapolis. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1300 West St. in Annapolis. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Annapolis.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Pediatric ER at Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or the SPCA, 1815 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.

Online condolences may be made at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com