Nancy R. Lange

On February 8, 2017, after a four month fight with an aggressive form of cancer – our beloved Nancy R. Lange passed peacefully from this world to the next with her family surrounding her. Nancy lived her 73 years to the fullest – embracing life as a wonderful wife, loving mother, caring daughter/sister/cousin, as well as a passionate teacher, artist, gardener, singer, and antique/thrift shopper.

Nancy’s spirit is carried on by her loving husband Jonathan, 8 children (4 daughters and 4 stepchildren) and 17 grandchildren; Carolyn Lange (sons Matt and Greg), Jonathan Lange (wife Danielle, daughters Alexandra, Taylor, Carly and Kirsten), Andrew Lange (wife Helen, children Aiden and Morgan), Lorne Murphy (daughters Sophia, Ysobel and Magdalena Echevario), David Lange (wife Annemarie, children Kieran, Simon and Evelyn), Melissa Murphy, Erin Murdach (husband Charlie, children Maxwell, Madigan and McKinley) and Amanda Lange along with Nancy’s adored sister, Isabella Draper (husband Bob) and cherished sister-in-laws Lynn Raiser and Josie Seymour and many much-loved nieces and nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Nancy was born and raised in New York, NY. In her 20s she travelled to beautiful exotic places as a TWA Flight attendant. She loved to meet people and befriend them with her love of life, contagious laugh, and unassuming charm. Nancy and Jonathan met eachother on April 18, 1980, and they quickly fell in love, were married soon after and have loved each other for 34 long, happy, busy and full years. They celebrated the birth of Amanda, and a year later their second anniversary with “the trip of their lives” to Egypt and Santorini, Greece with Jonathan’s sister Julie and her husband Parker Hall.

Nancy’s free-spirited joyfulness matched her deep heart and clear opinions. She taught her children to be brave and warm. Almost all of Nancy’s children adopted her penchant for all kinds of tears – happy, sad and inexplicably timed ones.  She loved antique hunting auctions and garage sales, and over the years she often pulled over her car (full of kids) on hot summer days (or in pouring rain) to “see if there is anything good.”  She was the first one on a dance floor…and was usually the last to leave… and she brought us all so much joy with her signature dance move (dip, sway, shuffle, shuffle, snap, clap and whistle)… And needless to say, her beautiful legs are still talked about.

She brought grace, joy and beauty  to all parts of her life and to all the places she called home; New York, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, Florida, but especially to her and Jonathan’s home on Lake Champlain in Willsboro, NY.  Nancy loved and decorated her life with art in all forms. Her house was a testament of her design sense and impatience; as over the years she would often spontaneously re-arrange her interiors without waiting for help, even to move the big furniture.

In 2006, at 63 years old, Nancy earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts from Johnson State College.  As a watercolor painter, she saw and experienced the world as a beautiful soft canvas.  Her deep connection with nature grew in her summer gardens, and her singing (whether in church or at home) will be remembered for her lilting and operatic arias…even while singing to pop music!

Nancy has now joined her parents (Victor and Edris), older brother (Vic), Sister and Brother-in-Law (Julie and Parker Hall) and Mother-in-law (Barbara) along with the many family dogs, cats, birds and goats she loved so deeply.  Family gatherings will never be the same, without her big breakfasts, joy from soaking in the sun, and love of playing in the lake with her grandchildren.  She is eternally loved and will be unendingly missed by everyone.

Nancy was dedicated to her faith and various local/national organizations helping those in need, especially children, and the environment. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Willsboro Congregational Church, Nature Conservancy or the American Cancer Society.