Nancy Carol Elliott Mack, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator, and mentor, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2024, in Sacramento, CA, at the age of 89.
Nancy was born on December 28, 1934, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Merle Hugh Elliott and Doris Marsh Elliott.
She grew up in Berkeley, California, where she cultivated her lifelong love of learning. Nancy earned her A.A. from UC Berkeley in 1954 and her B.A. from UC Davis in 1956. At Berkeley she was a member of Sigma Kappa. At Davis she was editor of the student newspaper (as she was at Oakland Tech High School).
It was at UC Davis Picnic Day where she met the love of her life, Charles Robinson Mack, on a setup date on the steps of South Hall. The couple married in June 1957 and cherished their tradition of revisiting Picnic Day every year to recreate that serendipitous moment.
Nancy devoted her life to education and child development, serving as an elementary school teacher, special education teacher, and principal. She capped her career as the Director of Child Development for the Marysville Joint Unified School District. Her passion for mentoring extended beyond the classroom to her work with prospective Episcopal priest candidates, exemplifying her commitment to nurturing others. She served a number of years on the Yolo Family Service Board of Directors, Child Care Planning Council of Yolo County, Woodland Joint Unified Curriculum Advisory Committee and was a Mentor Director through Yuba College for Early Childhood Education. In Woodland she was a member of the Shakespeare Club.
Nancy and Charles raised three daughters, Susan Pike (Kelly), Sarah Sangster (Edward), and Dorothy Stoppelmann (John). Her family grew to include six grandchildren—Benjamin Sangster (Barbara), Christopher Sangster, Katherine Leal (Cristobal), Rebecca Pike, Alexander Pike (Danielle), and Elizabeth Campos (Jose)—and four great-grandchildren: Rowan Pike, Finley Pike, Calvin Leal, and Ruth Sangster.
Her summers spent on the family’s blueberry farm in Maine, her adventurous cooking, avid knitting, love of reading, and her famously delicious waffles enriched the lives of everyone around her.
A lifelong Episcopalian, Nancy was deeply devoted to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Woodland, CA, where she served in various roles, including director of Christian education, vestry member, and Stephen Ministry coordinator.
She was active at the Diocesan level, serving on the Christian Education Committee, member of the Facilitator Team, active consulting member of the Total Ministry Committee, nine-year member of the Diocesan Commission on Ministry, where she served as Shepherd for a number of candidates for Holy Orders. She served a term on the Diocesan Standing Committee, all for the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northern California.
At the greater church level, she served as a volunteer at four quadrennial General Conventions of The Episcopal Church. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life and a guiding light for her family.
Nancy will be remembered for her intellect, kindness, boundless energy, and her passion for helping others.
Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched as a teacher, mentor, and friend.
A memorial service to celebrate Nancy’s extraordinary life will be held at 2:00 PM on December 20, 2024, at St.
Luke’s Episcopal Church in Woodland, CA. There will be a reception following at the church. Interment in Pine Grove Cemetery, Appleton, Maine, will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fourth & Hope, 1901 E Beamer St, Woodland, CA 95776.