Nancy Sessions, 97, longtime New Canaan resident and civic volunteer, died at home on August 10, 2018.
Nancy was born in Hillsdale, Michigan on July 14, 1921, to Josephine McKey and Harold F Stock. She had a happy childhood, which she remembered particularly for hide-and-seek with friends, a stable with ponies, a backyard park with gardens and a pond with white swans, ice skating to school in winter, sailing on Lake Michigan in the summer, and grandparents living next door.
She graduated high school from Lake Forest Academy in Illinois and enrolled at the University of Michigan as a music major in theory and composition (piano). From a graduating class of 20 in high school to about 2,000 when she graduated from Michigan in 1943, Nancy found a sense of community by joining the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
During her sophomore year in 1941, on an arranged "blind date" after she caught his eye in a music class, Nancy met her lifelong love, Bill Sessions. Nancy and Bill married in August 1943 in her family's garden in Hillsdale, with Bill in his Navy dress whites. Thus began their marriage that was to continue for nearly 73 years until Bill's death at their home in New Canaan in 2016.
As a wartime bride to a young Naval officer, Nancy was fortunate to accompany Bill on his several assignments. After Bill's discharge in 1946, the couple settled in St Louis, Missouri, where Bill began a career as a corporate executive. Many moves followed -Nancy was proud of making a home for her family in 17 different spots, including St Louis; London and Surrey, England; Birmingham, MI; and New Canaan and Simsbury, CT. A constant, despite all these moves, was spending a few weeks each summer at the family's cottage on a trout stream in northern Michigan.
Nancy was most thankful for her long marriage to Bill. They complemented each other and were perhaps the epitome of a post-war marriage. Bill built a successful career in business, and Nancy managed the home. They shared parenting four children, sports, travel, activities, and a commitment to civic affairs.
Nancy and Bill lived in their much-loved New Canaan from 1959-1963 and from 1968 until now. Nancy was active in environmental conservation and beautifying the town. She was a member of the New Canaan Garden Club/Garden Center for more than 50 years, and received a Medal of Merit from the Garden Club of America for her "dedication, leadership and tireless commitment to the environment and … horticultural knowledge and many civic achievements". She was a leader in the multi-year project to plant and preserve the 21 triangles formed at the intersections of New Canaan streets. She was chair for some years of the Civic Beautification Committee, and instrumental in the choice and planting of trees for the Cherry Street Extension. She was a member of the New Canaan Environmental Commission for 20 years where she worked to preserve wetlands and open space in town and directed the Clean Your Mile Campaign. She was actively involved in the establishment of Irwin Park and the Walled Garden at Waveny.
Nancy had wide interests. She was a world traveler having visited every continent, an avid sportswoman, and she loved music, dancing, entertaining, horses, and particularly gardening. Her proudest achievement, though, was to have made a happy home life for her husband and children, and for friends and guests. Following Bill's death, Nancy chose to remain in her comfortable home until her passing. She had a long and well-lived life.
Nancy is survived by her sons Stuart (and spouse Elizabeth Morrison, MD) of Chevy Chase, MD, and David (and partner Kathleen Donohoe) of Ypsilanti, MI, daughters Andy (and spouse Marty Zenni), Andersonville, TN, and Brooke (and spouse Hank Berkowitz) Rowayton, CT, grandchildren Tina (and spouse Spencer Pahlke), Carrie, Sarah (and partner Kori Saunders), Steve, Rob, Billy, Jake, Colton and Mike, and great-grandchild Wyatt (only one!.)
Burial and a ceremony for Nancy will be in October at a time and place to be announced. Donations in Nancy's memory and in lieu of flowers may be made to The New Canaan Garden Club, c/o Ellen Zumbach, 49 Brooks Road, New Canaan, CT 06840.
Nancy was born in Hillsdale, Michigan on July 14, 1921, to Josephine McKey and Harold F Stock. She had a happy childhood, which she remembered particularly for hide-and-seek with friends, a stable with ponies, a backyard park with gardens and a pond with white swans, ice skating to school in winter, sailing on Lake Michigan in the summer, and grandparents living next door.
She graduated high school from Lake Forest Academy in Illinois and enrolled at the University of Michigan as a music major in theory and composition (piano). From a graduating class of 20 in high school to about 2,000 when she graduated from Michigan in 1943, Nancy found a sense of community by joining the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
During her sophomore year in 1941, on an arranged "blind date" after she caught his eye in a music class, Nancy met her lifelong love, Bill Sessions. Nancy and Bill married in August 1943 in her family's garden in Hillsdale, with Bill in his Navy dress whites. Thus began their marriage that was to continue for nearly 73 years until Bill's death at their home in New Canaan in 2016.
As a wartime bride to a young Naval officer, Nancy was fortunate to accompany Bill on his several assignments. After Bill's discharge in 1946, the couple settled in St Louis, Missouri, where Bill began a career as a corporate executive. Many moves followed -Nancy was proud of making a home for her family in 17 different spots, including St Louis; London and Surrey, England; Birmingham, MI; and New Canaan and Simsbury, CT. A constant, despite all these moves, was spending a few weeks each summer at the family's cottage on a trout stream in northern Michigan.
Nancy was most thankful for her long marriage to Bill. They complemented each other and were perhaps the epitome of a post-war marriage. Bill built a successful career in business, and Nancy managed the home. They shared parenting four children, sports, travel, activities, and a commitment to civic affairs.
Nancy and Bill lived in their much-loved New Canaan from 1959-1963 and from 1968 until now. Nancy was active in environmental conservation and beautifying the town. She was a member of the New Canaan Garden Club/Garden Center for more than 50 years, and received a Medal of Merit from the Garden Club of America for her "dedication, leadership and tireless commitment to the environment and … horticultural knowledge and many civic achievements". She was a leader in the multi-year project to plant and preserve the 21 triangles formed at the intersections of New Canaan streets. She was chair for some years of the Civic Beautification Committee, and instrumental in the choice and planting of trees for the Cherry Street Extension. She was a member of the New Canaan Environmental Commission for 20 years where she worked to preserve wetlands and open space in town and directed the Clean Your Mile Campaign. She was actively involved in the establishment of Irwin Park and the Walled Garden at Waveny.
Nancy had wide interests. She was a world traveler having visited every continent, an avid sportswoman, and she loved music, dancing, entertaining, horses, and particularly gardening. Her proudest achievement, though, was to have made a happy home life for her husband and children, and for friends and guests. Following Bill's death, Nancy chose to remain in her comfortable home until her passing. She had a long and well-lived life.
Nancy is survived by her sons Stuart (and spouse Elizabeth Morrison, MD) of Chevy Chase, MD, and David (and partner Kathleen Donohoe) of Ypsilanti, MI, daughters Andy (and spouse Marty Zenni), Andersonville, TN, and Brooke (and spouse Hank Berkowitz) Rowayton, CT, grandchildren Tina (and spouse Spencer Pahlke), Carrie, Sarah (and partner Kori Saunders), Steve, Rob, Billy, Jake, Colton and Mike, and great-grandchild Wyatt (only one!.)
Burial and a ceremony for Nancy will be in October at a time and place to be announced. Donations in Nancy's memory and in lieu of flowers may be made to The New Canaan Garden Club, c/o Ellen Zumbach, 49 Brooks Road, New Canaan, CT 06840.
Nancy Sessions, 97, longtime New Canaan resident and civic volunteer, died at home on August 10, 2018.
Nancy was born in Hillsdale, Michigan on July 14, 1921, to Josephine McKey and Harold F Stock. She had a happy childhood, which she remembered particularly for hide-and-seek with friends, a stable with ponies, a backyard park with gardens and a pond with white swans, ice skating to school in winter, sailing on Lake Michigan in the summer, and grandparents living next door.
She graduated high school from Lake Forest Academy in Illinois and enrolled at the University of Michigan as a music major in theory and composition (piano). From a graduating class of 20 in high school to about 2,000 when she graduated from Michigan in 1943, Nancy found a sense of community by joining the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
During her sophomore year in 1941, on an arranged "blind date" after she caught his eye in a music class, Nancy met her lifelong love, Bill Sessions. Nancy and Bill married in August 1943 in her family's garden in Hillsdale, with Bill in his Navy dress whites. Thus began their marriage that was to continue for nearly 73 years until Bill's death at their home in New Canaan in 2016.
As a wartime bride to a young Naval officer, Nancy was fortunate to accompany Bill on his several assignments. After Bill's discharge in 1946, the couple settled in St Louis, Missouri, where Bill began a career as a corporate executive. Many moves followed -Nancy was proud of making a home for her family in 17 different spots, including St Louis; London and Surrey, England; Birmingham, MI; and New Canaan and Simsbury, CT. A constant, despite all these moves, was spending a few weeks each summer at the family's cottage on a trout stream in northern Michigan.
Nancy was most thankful for her long marriage to Bill. They complemented each other and were perhaps the epitome of a post-war marriage. Bill built a successful career in business, and Nancy managed the home. They shared parenting four children, sports, travel, activities, and a commitment to civic affairs.
Nancy and Bill lived in their much-loved New Canaan from 1959-1963 and from 1968 until now. Nancy was active in environmental conservation and beautifying the town. She was a member of the New Canaan Garden Club/Garden Center for more than 50 years, and received a Medal of Merit from the Garden Club of America for her "dedication, leadership and tireless commitment to the environment and … horticultural knowledge and many civic achievements". She was a leader in the multi-year project to plant and preserve the 21 triangles formed at the intersections of New Canaan streets. She was chair for some years of the Civic Beautification Committee, and instrumental in the choice and planting of trees for the Cherry Street Extension. She was a member of the New Canaan Environmental Commission for 20 years where she worked to preserve wetlands and open space in town and directed the Clean Your Mile Campaign. She was actively involved in the establishment of Irwin Park and the Walled Garden at Waveny.
Nancy had wide interests. She was a world traveler having visited every continent, an avid sportswoman, and she loved music, dancing, entertaining, horses, and particularly gardening. Her proudest achievement, though, was to have made a happy home life for her husband and children, and for friends and guests. Following Bill's death, Nancy chose to remain in her comfortable home until her passing. She had a long and well-lived life.
Nancy is survived by her sons Stuart (and spouse Elizabeth Morrison, MD) of Chevy Chase, MD, and David (and partner Kathleen Donohoe) of Ypsilanti, MI, daughters Andy (and spouse Marty Zenni), Andersonville, TN, and Brooke (and spouse Hank Berkowitz) Rowayton, CT, grandchildren Tina (and spouse Spencer Pahlke), Carrie, Sarah (and partner Kori Saunders), Steve, Rob, Billy, Jake, Colton and Mike, and great-grandchild Wyatt (only one!.)
Burial and a ceremony for Nancy will be in October at a time and place to be announced. Donations in Nancy's memory and in lieu of flowers may be made to The New Canaan Garden Club, c/o Ellen Zumbach, 49 Brooks Road, New Canaan, CT 06840.
Nancy was born in Hillsdale, Michigan on July 14, 1921, to Josephine McKey and Harold F Stock. She had a happy childhood, which she remembered particularly for hide-and-seek with friends, a stable with ponies, a backyard park with gardens and a pond with white swans, ice skating to school in winter, sailing on Lake Michigan in the summer, and grandparents living next door.
She graduated high school from Lake Forest Academy in Illinois and enrolled at the University of Michigan as a music major in theory and composition (piano). From a graduating class of 20 in high school to about 2,000 when she graduated from Michigan in 1943, Nancy found a sense of community by joining the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
During her sophomore year in 1941, on an arranged "blind date" after she caught his eye in a music class, Nancy met her lifelong love, Bill Sessions. Nancy and Bill married in August 1943 in her family's garden in Hillsdale, with Bill in his Navy dress whites. Thus began their marriage that was to continue for nearly 73 years until Bill's death at their home in New Canaan in 2016.
As a wartime bride to a young Naval officer, Nancy was fortunate to accompany Bill on his several assignments. After Bill's discharge in 1946, the couple settled in St Louis, Missouri, where Bill began a career as a corporate executive. Many moves followed -Nancy was proud of making a home for her family in 17 different spots, including St Louis; London and Surrey, England; Birmingham, MI; and New Canaan and Simsbury, CT. A constant, despite all these moves, was spending a few weeks each summer at the family's cottage on a trout stream in northern Michigan.
Nancy was most thankful for her long marriage to Bill. They complemented each other and were perhaps the epitome of a post-war marriage. Bill built a successful career in business, and Nancy managed the home. They shared parenting four children, sports, travel, activities, and a commitment to civic affairs.
Nancy and Bill lived in their much-loved New Canaan from 1959-1963 and from 1968 until now. Nancy was active in environmental conservation and beautifying the town. She was a member of the New Canaan Garden Club/Garden Center for more than 50 years, and received a Medal of Merit from the Garden Club of America for her "dedication, leadership and tireless commitment to the environment and … horticultural knowledge and many civic achievements". She was a leader in the multi-year project to plant and preserve the 21 triangles formed at the intersections of New Canaan streets. She was chair for some years of the Civic Beautification Committee, and instrumental in the choice and planting of trees for the Cherry Street Extension. She was a member of the New Canaan Environmental Commission for 20 years where she worked to preserve wetlands and open space in town and directed the Clean Your Mile Campaign. She was actively involved in the establishment of Irwin Park and the Walled Garden at Waveny.
Nancy had wide interests. She was a world traveler having visited every continent, an avid sportswoman, and she loved music, dancing, entertaining, horses, and particularly gardening. Her proudest achievement, though, was to have made a happy home life for her husband and children, and for friends and guests. Following Bill's death, Nancy chose to remain in her comfortable home until her passing. She had a long and well-lived life.
Nancy is survived by her sons Stuart (and spouse Elizabeth Morrison, MD) of Chevy Chase, MD, and David (and partner Kathleen Donohoe) of Ypsilanti, MI, daughters Andy (and spouse Marty Zenni), Andersonville, TN, and Brooke (and spouse Hank Berkowitz) Rowayton, CT, grandchildren Tina (and spouse Spencer Pahlke), Carrie, Sarah (and partner Kori Saunders), Steve, Rob, Billy, Jake, Colton and Mike, and great-grandchild Wyatt (only one!.)
Burial and a ceremony for Nancy will be in October at a time and place to be announced. Donations in Nancy's memory and in lieu of flowers may be made to The New Canaan Garden Club, c/o Ellen Zumbach, 49 Brooks Road, New Canaan, CT 06840.
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