NEWHALL, Nancy Anne, 64 of Halifax, passed away on Monday May 13, 2013. Born in Lombard, Illinois, daughter of Jim & Marianne Newhall, she grew up in Madison Wisconsin. She attended Luther College and graduated with an Arts degree and went on to study Archeology. Following a period of archeological work in Hawaii, she travelled through Europe and spent a year working in an Israeli kibbutz. She met her main Buddhist teacher, Trungpa Rinpoche, in Boulder Colorado in 1974, when he delivered the first course on Buddhism and compassionate warrior principles at Naropa Institute. She began work that year for the organization he formed, eventually called Shambhala International. When Trungpa Rinpoche established its headquarters in Halifax in 1985, she decided to move here, arriving with her family in 1988. Upon Trungpa Rinpoche’s death in 1987, she became a student of his son Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. She continued working for Shambhala International until 1994, as Chief of Staff. She then went on to work on local entrepreneurial projects, including the establishment of Omega Heath, and the Clay Café franchise.
Nan’s life was dedicated to her family, friends, and to great compassionate action for her various communities. She always found immense joy in the love of her daughter Ashley Hannon, her dear brothers, Michael and Stephen Newhall, and in her husband Geoff Crinean. She also spent a lot of energy caring for her cheerful mother Marianne, who died in 2012. Nan loved painting, gardening, travelling, and especially spending time at Denma Farm in Tatamagouche. She was a Shambhala warrior of compassion – fearless and kind with everyone she encountered.
A celebration of her life - a compassionate warrior’s funeral - will be held at the Halifax Shambhala Centre, 1084 Tower Road, at 7pm Thursday May 16, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Mother Lineage Fund or Dorje Denma Ling, c/o the Halifax Shambhala Centre.
To view of to send messages of condolence to the family, please visit: www.cruikshankhalifaxfuneralhome.com
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