Nancy A.(Nicholas) McGowen

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Nancy A. (Nicholas) McGowen, 74, of Spalding, NE, passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at the Boone County Health Center, Albion, NE.

She was a daughter of the late Herbert, Sr. and Irene (Bagley) Nicholas, born on July 26, 1943 in Cranston, RI. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Cranston. Nancy attended elementary school at St. Ann’s Ca¬tholic School and graduated from Cranston East High School in 1963. Following her schooling, she joined the Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters in Glouster, MA for a short time, and then returned to Cranston to work at a jewelry manufacturing plant. In 1966, Nancy attended a military dance at the Girls City Club where she met Allen McGowen, stationed in Quonset, RI with the Navy SeaBees, and they began dating. On July 27, 1968, Nancy was united in marriage to Allen at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Cranston, RI. The couple moved to Spalding, NE where they lived on the family farm 3 miles west of Spalding for 36 years before moving to town in 2004. Nancy worked in the Spalding Post Office for 27 years. She also worked in the kitchen at the Spalding Livestock Market.

Nancy was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Anne’s Altar Society, and sang in the choir. She was also a mem¬ber of the American Legion Auxiliary. Some of Nancy’s enjoy¬ments include gardening, cooking, knitting, and crocheting. Over the years, she made many afghans and baby blankets for family members. She enjoyed canning and canned all the vegetables for her family each year. Nancy’s favorite flowers were daisies, and she loved collecting teapots. Nancy adored spending time with her grandchildren, and going to their activi¬ties. She always had fun spending time with friends at morning coffee and playing cards.

Nancy is survived by her husband Allen of Spalding, NE; son Patrick McGowen of Hastings, NE; daughter Victoria (Mike) Bauer of Shenandoah, IA; grandchildren: Trevor and Brooke Bauer of Shenandoah, IA; brother Barry (Jaye) Nicholas of Charleston, SC; sister Linda (James) Hanley of West Warrick, RI; sister-in-law Ellen Nicholas of Cranston, RI; family on Al¬len’s side: brother-in-law Larry (Linda) McGowen and sister-in-law Mary (Bill) Berney, all of Spalding, NE; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her granddaughters Rachel and Renae Bauer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Spalding, NE with Fr. Antony Thekkekara and Fr. James Murphy officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Spalding, NE. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the church with a 7:00 p.m. wake service. Dolce-Scheef Mortuary of Spalding, NE is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.levanderfuneralhome.com