Nancy Evelyn McDonnell, 76, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, 2023, the first day of spring, surrounded by family and close friends. Born October 6, 1946, Nancy was lovingly raised by her mother Mary (DeLeon) Torres, her grandmother Guadalupe (Santos) DeLeon, and her uncle Frank DeLeon.
A lifelong and proud Puebloan, Nancy loved her family, her amazing friends, her nursing work, her oldies and celebrations of all varieties, even the falling of a leaf! Nancy Mac or Nurse Nancy as she was affectionately referred to, was a natural-born caretaker and that passion and service to others extended far beyond her professional work. Always the first call if someone was sick, required help or just needed a compassionate and loving ear, Nancy’s warmth and generosity radiated from her to everyone she encountered.
When Nancy danced her way into heaven, she was greeted by her mother Mary, husband Jim, brother-in-law Joe McDonnell and special cousin Christine (Kitty) Jimenez. Nancy’s life will forever be celebrated, and her traditions carried on by her children Ryan and Megan McDonnell, granddaughter Logann McDonnell, brother Ed (Jennifer) Torres, sister-in-law Cheryl McDonnell and cousins / surrogate sisters: Sally Natividad, Lupe (Bob) Beltran, Eleanor Gutierrez. In addition, Nancy’s memory will be honored by numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews including: Jason (Ursula) Torres, Jackson Torres, Chris (Andrea) Beltran, Michelle (Rick) Shedd, Bobby (Darlene) Beltran, Lance Gutierrez, Kim (Andrew) Cura, Dale (Hazel) Natividad, Julie (Erica Espinoza) Jimenez, Dezi Gutierrez, Emily (Josh) Sisneros, Vicky Beltran, Eric (Nora) McDonnell, and Heather (Mark) Colombell. And a very special acknowledgement and thank you to Nancy’s best friend and confidant, Marcie (Zeke) Nava who was at Nancy’s side throughout all that the rollercoaster of life offered her, sharing in every up and down and holding Nancy’s hand until the very end.
Visitation will be from 3-5pm on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Angelus Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at 10am at Holy Family Parish. Internment following the mass at Imperial Memorial Gardens. A reception (following the internment) will be held at Holy Family Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Nancy’s honor to the Joni Fair Hospice House in Pueblo, CO, who’s staff lovingly cared for both Nancy and her husband Jim in their final days.