Nancy Denz

1922 - 2012

Nancy (Stone) Denz, of Cromwell, beloved wife of John Denz for 67 years, passed away peacefully at her home on Sept. 5, her 90th birthday, surrounded by her family.
Born in Worcester, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Ethel (Reed) Stone.
Nancy graduated from Arnold College as a physical education teacher in 1943. While in college she met her future husband, John. After marrying, they moved to Danielson, where she started her teaching career in Putnam. In 1951, they moved to Cromwell with their three children and in 1956, Nancy returned to teaching at Middletown High School. In 1960, she started teaching physical education at Cromwell High School until her retirement in 1978. Throughout her career she was very well respected by students and colleagues. After retirement, she would see former students around town and was always greeted with a hug and a smile.
Nancy's love of travel and camping took her and John throughout every state except Hawaii. She made lifelong friends all along the way. Just this past January, she and John, at age 89 and 90 drove to Sanibel Island, Fla. with their trailer and spent five weeks camping with friends as they had done for the past 18 years.
For years, Nancy could be found sitting in her living room knitting hundreds of children's hats and mittens for charities. She also enjoyed researching her family ancestry back to the 1600s in England. She proudly spoke about her famous relatives who helped settle towns in Massachusetts and participated in the American Revolution and Civil War.
Along with her husband, Nancy leaves behind two daughters, Susan Carta and her husband, Ralph Braithwaite and Sandra Wade and her husband, John; daughter-in-law, Susan P. Denz; four grandchildren, Alison Birdsey, Jessica Buchanan and her husband, Kenneth, Kara Denz and Jeffrey Denz; six great-grandchildren, Carter and Trevor Buchanan and Harry, Ben, Sam and Carly Trider; two sisters, Mary Browning and Elizabeth Maynard and her husband, Robert and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her son, Peter Denz.
The Denz family would like to thank Middlesex Hospice Home Care for their excellent care giving, concern and help, making her final weeks comfortable. A special thank you to her nurse, Suzanne and her nurse's aide, Timi for all they did for Nancy and her family.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m. at Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main St., Cromwell with Rev. Margaret H. Minnick officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call on Sunday before the service from 2 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home.
At Nancy's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Student Council Scholarship Fund at Cromwell High School, Donald Harris Drive, Cromwell, CT 06416.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
Please sign the Guest Book at RememberingCT.us/middletownpress.