Nancy Carol Matthews Hurley (1939 – 2024) became one of heaven’s most cherished angels on November 15.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, Patrick Barry Hurley (Buddy) and her three children; her son Patrick Bruce, his wife Michelle and their children; Shawn Patrick, Kelsey Erin and Conor Patrick and his wife Cassandra, her daughter Sue Anne Stuckless, husband Randy and son Matthew Agone, his wife Katie and their children Elliana and Dominick, and her daughter Karyl Jeanne and her husband Gail Smith. Nancy and Pat grew up in Talcville, NY as children and met again as young adults as they began their respective careers in nursing and the Navy. They married on New Year’s Eve 1960 and began a family while moving to naval bases from Boston to VA, to CT, SC, MS and eventually settled in Henrietta, NY where they have lived since 1972.
Nancy is renowned for her kindness and generosity of spirit. She made best friends wherever they were stationed and was honored for her work in the Navy Ladies’ Auxiliary for helping other families while Pat was at sea on submarine duty. She resumed her nursing work at Catholic schools in Rochester, NY and volunteered in the Red Cross. Nancy was exceptionally creative and became skilled at sewing, needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, painting, quilting, scrapbooking, and gardening. Her fried chicken and her mother’s doughnuts were family favorites, and buttered popcorn with fudge were weekly treats with the grandkids. Being outside in nature was her happy place whether she was cross-country skiing, walking in Mendon Ponds Park taming the chickadees, sitting on the patio surrounded by her peonies, or at ‘camp’ with family and good friends on Lake Ontario. Together, she and Pat explored forty-eight states as well as many sites abroad in Great Britain, Ireland, Paris, Switzerland, and Italy. In life, she was a beloved spouse, a dedicated, proud and loving Mom and (Great) Grandma (GG), and a fiercely loyal friend. Her gifts to those of us left behind are eternal optimism, laughter, the love of animals, and finding joy in the changing of the seasons as they were her favorite times of the year. She left the world a far better place and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Nancy and Pat agreed that they did not want a funeral service and instead, we will have a small family celebration of life someday when they are together again. In the meantime, we would be so grateful if you could share your memories in tribute to her here: https://rochestercremation.com/obituary/nancy-carol-matthews-hurley.