Nancy Grace Fisher Mackolin, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and educator, died peacefully at home in Freehold,New Jersey on September 19, 2017. Cause of death was lung cancer.
We have lost much. Nancy loved, mentored, and advocated for her children and family. She was avid in her music and literary interests, which she freely shared with others. She loved the beach and her tennis. Nancy was a model of strength in persevering through staggering family losses. She was all this and more while simultaneously engaged in an exemplary professional career. Nancy’s loss leaves an immense vacuum in our family’s life and culture, unlikely to be filled soon, if ever.
Nancy was born February 15, 1933, in Buffalo, New York. Nancy graduated form Sacred Heart Academy, music centered Catholic high school, where she participated in many and varied musical events. In 1953 Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Buffalo State College, then known as Buffalo State Teachers college. She earned a Master’s Degree at Georgian Court College in 1980, and studied at The University of Pennsylvania where she earned certification as a Reading Specialist. An advocate of free public education, Nancy served as an educator in the public schools of Buffalo, West Babylon, and Rockland County, New York; Newton, Massachusetts; and, Jackson, New Jersey where for the last twenty seven years of her career she worked as a Reading Specialist and the Director of School District Standardized Reading Testing and Measurement.
Nancy was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Veronica Fisher; a sister Mary (Donald) Hope; two sons, William D. Jr. and Mark Andrew; and a granddaughter, Emily Rose Johnson.
In addition to her husband, William, Nancy is survived by four children: Anne (Ira, deceased) Wiesenfeld, Joseph (Marcie) Mackolin, Sarah (Arthur) Johnson, Amy (Carl) Rizer; and daughters-in-law of deceased sons, Karen (William Jr.) and Jennifer (Mark) Mackolin. Her progeny also include sixteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Grandchildren are: Daniel (Mais) Black, Matthew and Benjamin (Haley) Wiesenfeld; William D. III, Garrett, and Bridget Mackolin; Joseph F. Jr; Rebecca, Georgia, and SarahGrace Johnson; Melissa, Mark A. Jr. and Megan Mackolin; and Nicholas, Samuel and Maxwell Rizer. Her great-grandchildren are Mason and Ema Black, and Isla Wiesenfeld.
A requiem mass in her name will be offered by Reverend Monsignor Michael J. Walsh and celebrated at St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church in Freehold, New Jersey , at 10:00a.m. on September 26, 2017. A reception in her memory will immediately follow the mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Alzheimers New Jersey, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, Nj 07834