READING, VT
Nancy F. Fielder, 77, a resident of Reading, passed away Sunday afternoon, February 26, surrounded by her family, at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.

She was born November 5, 1934 in Leominster, MA the daughter of the late Claude and Frances (Cooke) Peake. She received her schooling in Bucks County, Pennsylvania at The Manumit School, graduating in 1953. She attended Goddard College in Plainfield, VT and graduated with her teaching degree in 1957. She married John Pierce on May 22, 1966 in New York City. He passed away on October 27, 1970. She married Robert Fielder on February 19, 1972 in Springfield, VT.

Nancy began her teaching career at Columbia University Preschool in New York City, NY, and later taught at The Woodstock Country School in South Woodstock, VT, then the North Springfield Elementary in North Springfield, VT, later at the former Windsor Cooperative Nursery School in Windsor, also at Reading Elementary School in Reading, VT, and most recently at Albert Bridge Elementary School in Brownsville, until her retirement in 1996. She was a lifelong advocate of early education and introduced many generations of children to the world of learning. She spent the last ten years teaching ceramic classes at the Springfield Senior Center.

Nancy was an accomplished artist and was proficient at painting, drawing, ceramics, pottery, sewing, knitting and caning chairs. She was an avid reader, a lover of conversation, and enjoyed classical, opera and folk music. She was fond of traveling to Star Island, NH, North Truro, MA and Ellenville, NY to visit family and friends. She was extremely fond of animals, and enjoyed bird watching, and taking daily walks with her dogs. She loved having dinner with her friends and loved spending time with her family. She was always concerned about others above herself. She instilled in her children and her family a sense of independence and love of learning and art.

She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Woodstock.

Mr. Fielder passed away on August 17, 2003. She was also predeceased by one son, Jeremy Pierce, her sister, Leslie Harris, her brother, Stephen Peake and her step-mother, Evelyn Peake.

Survivors include eight daughters, Jennifer Fielder and her companion, Jamie Gravelin of Shelburne, VT, Karen Barr and her husband, Jim of Reading, Heidi Fielder of Reading, Deb Macia and her husband, Gary of Reading, Kathy Davis of Burlington, VT, Sheryl Pierce and her husband, Tom Toniolli of Acworth, NH, Marjorie Pierce and her husband, Jim Pallutto of Springfield, VT, and Annie Caswell and her husband, Brad of Maine, two sons, Don Fielder of Stockbridge, VT and Nick Pierce of Bethel, VT, eleven grandchildren, Sophia Garivaltis, Isabella Fielder, Ethan Waldo, Vanessa Maxham, Morgan Macia, Hallie Davis-Penders, Courtney Davis-Durkin, Arthur Davis III, Joshua Pierce, Emily Pierce and Ben Pierce, one great granddaughter, 5 great grandsons, four nieces, Wendy Harris, Kate Young, Francie Peake and Susan Peake, one nephew, David Harris, three grandnieces and one grandnephew, and one sister-in-law, Elvira Peake of Pittsburg, PA.

A Celebration of Nancy's life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Woodstock in the spring at a day and time to be announced.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Springfield Senior Center at 139 Main Street, Springfield, VT 05156.

The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor assisted with the arrangements.