Nancy Carolyn Mathers

Obituary of Nancy Carolyn Mathers

Nancy Carolyn (née Barlow) Mathers, 83, of Old Saybrook, CT, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025, after an extended illness, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Greensburg, IN, on November 19, 1942, to Emerson William and Mary (née Harmon) Barlow, she grew up in Stamford, CT. Although she was raised in Connecticut, Nancy treasured the time she spent in Indiana during her childhood visiting her extended family, including numerous cousins. After earning her Bachelor's degree in English from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, she married Thomas Gregory Mathers in 1965. Nancy taught English at the middle school and high school levels for a few years in Stamford and New Haven before she and Tom moved to Old Saybrook, where they raised their family and made their home for more than fifty years.

Nancy devoted much of her life to the music ministry at St. John Catholic Church in Old Saybrook, where she served as parish organist for more than twelve years. She directed both the adult and youth choirs, taught in the parish CCD program, and was an active member of the adult prayer group. She also played a significant role in St. John's acquisition of a new organ system, installed in 1984, which continues to enrich the parish's musical worship today. After retiring from St. John's, she continued to share her love of music by teaching voice and piano to local students in her home for several years.

Nancy enjoyed classical music, piano in particular, as well as writing poetry and reading British mystery classics. She loved growing wildflowers and roses in the backyard, collecting antiques, and was a formidable Scrabble and cribbage player. An enthusiast for the history and preservation of Old Saybrook, she especially cherished the nearly 200-year-old house where she and Tom raised their family. She had a keen eye for color and decorating in the Colonial and Victorian styles. She enjoyed sharing her time and care as a Cub Scout den mother and Brownie Scout troop co-leader. Gifted with a beautiful singing voice and a fun sense of humor, Nancy was also a kind and caring friend to many.

She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her children David (Kathy), Jeffrey (Amy), Marianne (Bill), Alicia (Scott), and Juliet (Randy); her grandchildren Marshall, Forrest, Deanna, Annabelle, Ethan, Noelle, and Rachael; and her sister-in-law Constance Mathers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on January 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church, 161 Main St., Old Saybrook, CT. Interment will follow immediately at Resurrection Cemetery, 1080 Horse Hill Rd., Westbrook, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Food Bank at www.ctfoodshare.org. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.