Nancy Trapnell Holmes, of Boothbay Harbor, passed away peacefully on March 18 in the loving hands of her children at St. Andrews Gregory Wing. Her death comes after a long struggle with various health issues that took her away from her life of love and service.
Nancy was born in Glen Ridge, N.J., Jan. 7, 1934, the daughter of William and Elsa Trapnell. She grew up in Ardmore, Penn., where two of her lifelong passions developed: singing and figure skating. She sang in the school chorus and later in church choirs; music and song were always an integral part of her life. Nancy graduated with an associate’s degree in Childhood Education from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.
In 1954, she married Andrew Holmes of Fryeburg and began work as a nursery school teacher in Middletown, Conn. She raised her three children while serving as headmaster’s wife at North Yarmouth Academy, Oak Grove Coburn, and Berwick Academy, plus summers on the staff of Camp Ettowah in Fryeburg.
In 1980 she and Andrew parted ways and Nancy moved to Waterville to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She graduated in 1982 with her LPN from Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute. Nancy then worked at various physician offices and clinics, before becoming a pediatric nurse at Maine Medical Center. She worked at Maine Medical from 1987 through 1996 when she retired, but stayed involved by volunteering on the NICU, the lactation clinic, and the Ronald McDonald House. She also volunteered with “Family Friends,” a foster grandparent program serving families with young children, mostly newborns, with multiple medical needs.
Nancy left the Portland area in 2012 and moved to Boothbay Harbor to be closer to her daughter. Life brought her many challenges, but through it all Nancy always tried to live by the “Golden Rule,” treating others as she would have wanted to be treated, which served her well.
She was predeceased by brother, William Trapnell.
She is survived by her children, Mark and wife Alaine of Keene, N.H., Peter and wife Gayle of South Berwick, and Deborah Holmes Beam and husband Jim of Edgecomb; grandchildren, Christopher Holmes, Melissa Michaud, Robert Holmes, Samantha Beam, and Rebecca Beam Kash and husband Jason; and great-grandchildren, Alivia Michaud, Emily Holmes, Ethan Holmes, and Josephine Jade Holmes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Laura Vogel NICU Fund Development Office, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102. This fund helps support children and families (not medical equipment etc.) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Maine Medical.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sun., April 2 at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor.
To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com.
Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements.
