Nancy M. Wildrick

Nancy Wildrick (Mersfelder) was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 26, 1933 and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. She attended Columbia High School and Trenton State Teachers' College (now known as The College of New Jersey), where she majored in Elementary Education. Post graduation, Nancy taught fourth grade in Millburn, NJ. She was passionate about her work.
Nancy met the love of her life, Kenyon Wildrick, at a party during their college years. They married after Ken completed seminary. Together, they raised three children. Nancy embraced being a minister's wife and stopped teaching while her children were growing up because she considered a successful ministry to be a "two-person job" at the large, Short Hills church where Ken served as Sr. Minister for most of his career. Upon retirement, Ken became the Sr. Minister of Pilgrim Congregational Church in Warren, NJ. Nancy entertained frequently and was known for her discipline in baking Christmas cookies for parishioners and hosting the "soup course" of Progressive Dinners. A life-long Yankees fan, Nancy rarely missed a televised game. In her final year, when she moved to an Assisted Living unit at Fellowship Village, she would decline even a cherished social activity to watch a Yankees game, stating "my team needs me."
Nancy was social to the core. After Ken died, she chose to sell her home and move to Fellowship Village because "I need people more than things." She was known for attending most social activities at Fellowship Village and for encouraging other residents to join her for meals instead of opting to dine privately. (She was a proud founding member of "The Breakfast Club" within her 201 Household.)
Nancy is pre-deceased by her parents, Florence (Worth) Mersfelder and Wesly Mersfelder, her sister, Marjorie Van Riper, and her husband, the Reverand Dr. Kenyon J. Wildrick. She is survived by her three children, Catherine Bladt (John), Margaret Wildrick (James), and K. Dougles Wildrick (Nancy); her grandchildren, Matthew Thomas (Maria), Christopher Thomas, Kaitlyn Bladt and Andrew Bladt; and her nieces and nephews, Donna Court (JJ), Mark Van Riper, Carolie Johnson (Carl), and Donald Wildrick (Heidi).
A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 105 Mountainview Road in Warren, NJ on Saturday, January 24th at 3pm. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nancy's name to Pilgrim Congregational Church in her honor.