Nancy E. Wilson Piovesan passed away in Bellingham on Aug. 25, 2019, at the age of 92.
Mom was born in Bellingham on Sept. 16, 1926, to Esther (Beal) and Ira V. Wilson. Her early education began at the Normal School of WWSC, now Western Washington University.
Mom’s parents owned I.V. Wilson Florist. At age 11, her father passed away, leaving her mother as sole proprietor. Nancy spent much of her time with her aunt and uncle in Berkeley, California, and since troop movement made civilian travel difficult, she stayed in California and graduated from Anna Head School in 1945.
Mom met her future husband, Primo Piovesan, while working at the Bellingham Airport. Mom and Dad were married at Church of the Assumption on Sept. 27, 1947. Their first home was at Lake Whatcom; in the early 1950s, they moved to Ferndale, where Dad continued his veterinary practice.
Most of Mom’s adult life was spent in a support role for Whatcom Veterinary and, although she had to be home to answer the telephone, she managed to contribute to her community. She played a key part in making the Ferndale Community Pool a reality. She was a Camp Fire leader and an Old Settlers volunteer, to name a few involvements. St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ferndale was her home parish from 1954 on.
Mom was an active member in both the Bellingham Golf and Country Club and Shadow Mountain Golf Club in Palm Desert, California. She was an avid gardener, and her vegetable garden, flower beds and yard were her sanctuary. She was an amazing cook and taught us good nutrition by example. Mom was a partner in Bellingham Travel and enjoyed helping people with their travel needs.
After Dad died, Mom decided she would spend her birthday in a different place every year, so her daughters and their husbands took turns enjoying some memorable birthday trips with her.
Always one to look forward and not back, Mom sold the house on Vista Drive in June 2017 and moved to The Willows. She enjoyed this new community and formed wonderful friendships there.
Preceding Mom in death were her parents; her husband, Primo; brothers and sisters-in-law Chuck and Willie Wilson and Dick and Helen Wilson; and brothers-in-law Phil Rooney and Aldo Piovesan.
She is survived by daughters Ann (Jake) Hardy, Mary (Mike) Boedigheimer, and Judy (Jim) Harvey; sisters-in-law Irma Rooney and Barbara Piovesan; grandchildren Jason (Tammy) Hardy, Joshua Hardy, Andrew (Allisen) Hardy, Jennifer (Chantz) Ditter, Anna Boedigheimer, Kristen (Chad) Tollefson, Dean (Marlo) Harvey, and Rikki (Bill) Handy; 10 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. Mom also leaves behind her special Ferndale friends and her Shadow Mountain family in Palm Desert.
An amazing example, Mom lived her life with grace and dignity and wanted everyone to “cry smiling and cry laughing.”
Following her wishes there will be a Celebration of Life at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club, 3729 Meridian St., from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. Private burial will take place on Sept. 14 in Blaine Cemetery, with Fr. Francis Thumbi officiating.
Memorials may be made to Old Settlers Association, P.O. Box 993, Ferndale, WA 98248; Whatcom Hospice Foundation, 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225; St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5781 Hendrickson Ave., Ferndale, WA 98248; or a charity of choice.
Please share your memories of Nancy at molesfarewelltributes.com.
Arrangements are by Moles Farewell Tributes – Bellingham.
