NANCY CARMODY McGILLIS

September 30, 1950 – March 3, 2023

Nancy passed away unexpectedly on March 3, 2023.  She is survived by her husband, Steve, her daughters, Maureen (Mo) Wilson (Steve) and Megan Pope and son, Bryan (Amy), and grandchildren: Sean and Conor Wilson; Allan, William and Andrew Pope; and Fiona McGillis and Harper Poole.

Nancy was born in Portland, OR to William and Patricia Carmody.  She was raised in Seattle, WA and was graduated from Holy Names Academy and attended Seattle University.

Nancy married Steve on August 29, 1970 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Seattle.  Shortly thereafter they embarked on a twenty year journey while Steve served in the U.S. Army.  They were stationed in Yokohama and Camp Zama, Japan; Ft. Shafter and Schofield Barracks, HI; Alexandria, VA; Vicenza, Italy; Schwaebisch Gmuend and Grafenwoehr, Germany.  Following the service they moved to Vancouver, WA.

Wherever she lived, Nancy touched many lives through her many volunteer activities, especially as an Army wife, and her love of music.  After working for several years at the Portland Flower Market, she began a lengthy career as a Swim Instructor at Lakeshore Athletic Club.  She was also an avid reader.

Nancy was a lifelong swimmer and was a lifeguard as a teenager.  After marriage and three children, she swam laps for fitness for years. While she could not teach her own kids, she found her niche teaching other people's kids and her own grandchildren and in her own words "I'm having the time of my life!"

She was passionate about her music for church – she started the first "Folk Mass" group at St. Paul's Catholic Church in 1967 with Pat Swenson and has led or played at every chapel and parish throughout the world wherever she lived.  There was a special place in her heart for the beach and Nancy would get away to Rockaway Beach, OR at every opportunity and helped with music at St. Mary by the Sea Catholic Church.  After many years of playing at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Vancouver, she played most recently at All Saints Catholic Church in Portland.  She especially loved playing her banjo which seemed to always bring a smile to everyone.

She is greatly missed.

Funeral Mass for Nancy will be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 8701 NE 119 ^th St, Vancouver, WA 98662 on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 11:00a.m. preceded at 10:30a.m. with the Rosary.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Nancy's memory to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Doernbecher Children's Hospital or the Humane Society.