Lang, Nancy Jean
(nee Schaberg): Fortified with the Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church, died peacefully Friday, June 9, 2023 surrounded by family. Born 1936 in St. Louis, Nancy attended Nerinx Hall and St. Louis University. Beloved wife of Jim Lang (who preceded her in death in 2020). Loving mother to Jeanne Lawo (Gerald), Anne Frahn (Harrison), Kathleen Dolan (Daniel), James (Cecilia), and Julia Missey (Stephen). Adored matriarch, lovingly known as "Bubba" to her 15 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren (including one born the night before she passed), and many nieces and nephews. Surviving siblings include Donald Schaberg (Deborah) and Jill Schaberg McCarthy.
At the center of Nancy's life was the family she and Jim created over the course of their 62-year marriage. She raised 5 active kids while Jim traveled nearly weekly. She made daily home-cooked dinners, sewed prom dresses to order, moved the family around the country six times, grew a huge garden to make pickles and ketchup from scratch, all while being the neighborhood tennis champion. As her children grew up and made families of their own, Nancy devoted herself to fostering her large, loving, and close-knit family. She seamlessly orchestrated meals for 40, improvising menus from her stacks of recipes. Nancy was the carrier of family traditions and knowledge, and spent decades researching genealogy; name a town, and she could likely give you a detailed history of obscure ancestors there. When Jim retired in 2002, they built a lake home in Innsbrook where children and grandchildren made countless wonderful summer and holiday memories. The love that Nancy and Jim shared is the foundation of their family.
Nancy loved traveling, and she and Jim took many trips over the years, often with large groups of friends. That love of travel and new places and people was passed down to Nancy's children and grandchildren, as was her love of the Cardinals. She also loved music, whether it was singing the Sound of Music with her children, or sharing short, silly songs from her childhood.
Preceded in death by her husband James Lawrence Lang; her parents Donald Wayne and Rosemary Claire Schaberg (nee Lutkewitte); and brother Jack Schaberg.
Services: Visitation will be Monday, 6/12/23, 4-7pm at Bopp Chapel, Kirkwood. Funeral Mass on Tuesday, 6/13/23, 9:30 am St. Clement Catholic Church, Des Peres. Interment following at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, or to the "James D. Missey Special Needs Trust" (Nancy's grandson) c/o Stephen Missey, 2131 Briargate Ln, St. Louis 63122.
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