October 12, 1939-March 3, 2021

Nancy Josephine Mitchell (Kretzer) was born October 12, 1939 in New York City to Josephine and William Kretzer. She grew up in Great Neck, New York (Long Island) and attended Buckley Country Day School in Great Neck and Fox Hollow Boarding School in Lenox Massachusetts. Nancy went on to attend Scripts College in Claremont California eventually graduating from New York University with a degree in Art History.

In the summer of 1962 Nancy and her brother Fred threw a fabulous pool party at their parents' home in Kings Point. Arriving late (after setting his car on fire on the LI Expressway with a poorly discarded cigarette), John Mitchell appeared at the party and that was, as they say, it.

Nancy and John were married less than a year later in a ceremony overlooking the New York skyline surrounded by over 400 guests many of whom, Nancy would later report, she barely knew. They moved into an apartment on Barrow Street in Greenwich Village, adopted two cats from the NYC ASPCA, and started their life together.

In 1965, anticipating the arrival of their first child, they moved into an antique colonial (read: it needed work) in Stamford, Connecticut where they would live for the next 35 years. Nancy took on this new life eagerly working to gain the skills she would need. She became adept at child rearing, house decorating and painting, gardening, cooking, plumbing, and general repairs. The three acres afforded John the ability to adopt all manner of "pets" and Nancy became primary caretaker to an assortment including cats, dogs, peacocks, rabbits, geese, a goat and two parrots who all called that white colonial in the suburbs, home. She loved all birds and had cockatiels and parakeets for most of her life. She also fed (and named) no fewer than 30 raccoons who greeted her nightly at the back door in later years.

As their children became more independent, Nancy began working at Turn of River Hardware part time. She later spent a number of years at Southport Village Hardware working with her dear friend, Glen. She truly loved working in those stores helping people in the community build and fix things. Sharing this knowledge with customers often morphed into true friendship.

In 2000 Nancy and John moved to a 100-acre gentlemen's (read: far fewer animals) farm in Vermont and set about making it their own: remodeling, updating, and building followed by countless hours scouring antique stores and auctions until it was just to their liking. These were perhaps the happiest adult years of Nancy's life. She loved everything about Vermont and the "farm".

Nancy was of another time, valuing appearance, a well written thank you note, a properly set table, and a beautiful room or garden. She was a story teller with a wonderful ability to make others laugh. She did not know a stranger. She was an extrovert who filled every room and left all in her company better for the experience (perhaps a bit exhausted… but knowing they had had good food, good conversation and many laughs). She adored her children and grandchildren. She took great pride in being a first generation American and of achieving 36 years of sobriety.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents (Jo and Bill Kretzer), husband (John), brother and very special sister- in-law (Fred and Carolyn Kretzer), brother-in- law (David Mitchell), and two nephews (William Kretzer and Paul Mitchell).

She is survived by her children, Kim Mitchell of Maine and Sean (Terry) Mitchell of California and their children, Kristina (Maine), Sydney, and Addison (California). She is also survived by her dear in-laws, Beverley and Peter Mitchell, sister in-law Audrey (David) Mitchell and eight nieces and nephews and their families. Nancy had four lifelong friends who survive her: Lynne, Marcia, Bunny, and Susan. These four incredible women were her support, brought her laughter, kept her history, and resided in her heart for 65+ years.

Nancy's ashes will be buried in the Kretzer family plot at All Saint's Episcopal Church in Great Neck NY at a later date.

Knight Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com