Nancy Thorkildsen

Thorkildsen, Nancy SCOTIA Nancy Clark Thorkildsen of Scotia, 79, died Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Ellis Hospital, where she worked 23 years as a nursing instructor. She was born in Clifton Springs, N.Y., in 1932, the daughter of James Patterson Clark and Irma Underham Clark of Phelps, N.Y. Mrs. Thorkild-sen graduated as valedictorian from Phelps Central High School in 1949 and from the New York State College of Home Economics at Cornell University in 1953 with a bachelor's of science degree in food and nutrition. She moved to the Schenectady area in 1956. She received a bachelor's of science degree in nursing in 1969 and a master's of science degree in medical-surgical nursing and nursing education in 1979 from Russell Sage College. She was elected to Sigma Theta Tau, a nursing honorary society. Mrs. Thorkildsen was employed as a nursing instructor at the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing from 1971 to 1994. She was a book reviewer for a medical-surgical text and an accreditation visitor for the New York State Education Department. Her activities included membership in the AAUW, League of Women Voters, Schenectady County Tennis Association, Schenectady County Women's Tennis Association and the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady. She was a piano recitalist in the AAUW Musical Study Group and at the Etude Club. She and her husband Rolf performed many two-piano compositions and duets at the Unitarian Society. She also accompanied guest artists and choral groups. Mrs. Thorkildsen was known for her keen sense of humor and intelligence. She took continuing-education courses at local colleges, voraciously consumed news and sports on TV and took pride and pleasure in her beautiful flower gardens. She loved to read including newspapers from cover to coverand was a member for 51 years of a book club with dear friends. Her husband Rolf L. Thorkildsen, whom she married in 1978, died in 2005. She is survived by her daughters, Joan S. Livingston of Boston, Susan C. Livingston, her husband Henry Livingston and granddaughter Julia Pell Livingston of Marblehead, Mass., and Barbara D. Livingston of Saratoga Springs. She is also survived by stepchildren Erik, Karl and Peter Thorkildsen, and Susan and her husband Neal Golden, and step-grandchildren Zoe and Erling Thorkildsen and Dana Jean Golden. Visiting hours will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., Glenville. At 2 p.m. a period of remembrance will be held. The pleasure of many flowers at her service is requested. Entombment, which will be private, will take place at Memory Garden in Albany. Contributions in her memory can be made to the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing or Doctors Without Borders. Online condolences to the family at glenvillefuneralhome.com.