Nancy C. (O'Connell) Grimsley

Nancy C. (O'Connell) Grimsley, who loved to be called “Nannibella” by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on May 26, 2023. Born in Helena, Montana on February 14, 1943, she was the daughter to the late Helen (Finnegan) and John O’Connell. She was raised in San Francisco, CA, and Framingham, and attended Framingham High School then went on to attend Secretarial School. She was married to her husband of 59 years, Thomas H. Grimsley of Stoughton. Nancy devoted her life to her children, leaving her position as secretary at Raytheon, where she worked with her beloved husband, when her first child was born. Nancy tirelessly shuttled her daughters to and from various extracurricular activities, spent countless hours shivering her butt off at Asiaf Skating Rink, sweating buckets at Cosgrove Memorial Pool, avoiding horse manure at local barns, and attending numerous Stoughton Chorus recitals. She was her daughters’ best friend, confidant, and loudest cheerleader.

Nancy put her secretarial skills to beneficial use spending endless hours proofreading and typing Tom and her daughters’ schoolwork, term papers, and teaching CCD for the Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton. Despite disliking camping, Nancy made her family’s cherished annual camping trips possible, enjoyable, and memorable. Jigger Johnson’s will never be the same! She was an avid reader and had a gift of sharing the Irish Legend of the Wee Folk with loved ones. Her collection of Tom Clarke’s Gnomes will ensure future generations continue to pass on the legends! Nancy had an extreme fondness for cows and had quite a collection to prove it. She enjoyed making crafts, often making Christmas decorations and gifts with and/or for her loved ones.

In addition to her loving husband, Nancy is survived by her children Michele P. Grimsley of Stoughton, Carilynne E. Grimsley of Sharon, and Johelen J. and her husband Jeremy Phair of Conway, NH, and her fur baby, S’more. She raised her children with love and devotion in Framingham, Stratford CT, and Stoughton with her adoring husband Thomas. Nancy was proud of being a grandmother to Erin C. Cushing of Webster, Shannan K. Cushing of Walpole, Sean P. Cushing, and Spanner M. Phair, both of Conway, NH, and was the great-grandmother to Dilyn, Graedy, CJ, Anthony, Nevaeh, Noah, and Liam. Aside from the family she doted on, Nancy is survived by several nieces and nephews, and was preceded in death by her siblings Jeffery Allison and Shelli Carey.

Services will be held at Chapel of our Savior, 475 Westgate Drive, Brockton, on June 17, 2023, at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy's memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.