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Nancy A. Dell of 9 Eaton Street passed away peacefully as a hospice patient at U Mass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA, on May 4, 2025. Born June 28, 1939, Nancy was 85 and the daughter of Gardner residents Albert and Florence Bailey Dell.
Nancy attended Gardner schools and graduated from Gardner High School in 1957. She accepted a secretarial job with MetLife the same year and worked for them, eventually as an office manager, until her retirement in 1994.
Nancy loved Gardner, and she loved nothing more than the family home she lived in for over 60 years. She was surrounded by antiques both from her grandparents and parents, and she avidly collected items old and new throughout the years. She donated many items to the Gardner Historical Society throughout her life. Her home was the hub of gatherings for family, friends, and community events.
A long-time member of the Congregational church, Nancy was active in the church choir. She was honored as a Girl Scout when she graduated from Gardner High School and continued her service as a treasurer for the Girl Scout Council for many years. She also served on the GHS Reunion Committee every five years until the 60th reunion in 2017. Any spare time was devoted to the crafts she loved and shared.
Nancy was a devoted friend and a dedicated historian of the Dell and Bailey families. She is survived by cousins Susan Dell, Jim Dell, and Linda Harris; her Sister-in-Law Pamela Dell; her step-nephew Christopher Tourtellot; loving friends Linda Lafond, Janet Korhonen, and Kristin Landry; and many others. Nancy was predeceased by her brother Richard Dell and her step-nephew Jason Dell.
Her funeral will be held at the Mack Family Funeral Home at 105 Central Street in Gardner, MA, on Friday, May 9, at 11:00 AM with a calling hour beginning at 10:00 AM.
In lieu of donations, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
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