Nancy Jill Lawrence

December 3, 1944 – December 5, 2020

Nancy Jill Lawrence, a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, school mom, and friend to all, lived her life with a relentless smile and an even stronger faith in God, brightening the spirits of everyone she met. She died on December 5, 2020, two days after her 76th birthday.

Known as Jill most of her life (“Nancy” was used frequently in her later years), she was born on December 3, 1944, in Santa Monica, California, to parents Irving Brown and Mary Norton. Jill and her brother Ray grew up in Alta Loma and it became clear in her early years that she was a natural caretaker. She attended Upland High School and later Chaffey College. In 1964 she met her future husband, Charles Eugene Lawrence; they were introduced by his sister Maddie. Chuck and Jill had an electric bond and they became the love of each other’s lives. As he studied Psychology at the University of California in Berkeley, Jill moved to the area and they were married in July of 1965.

In November of 1966, the young couple welcomed their first and only child, Elrond Gandalf, named after the Lord of the Rings books they loved. The young family soon moved back to Southern California to live with Chuck’s parents Madeline and Charles in Fontana. Tragically, Chuck passed away in April of 1974; Jill and her son continued to live with her in-laws and she assumed the roles of both mother and father to Elrond, which she accomplished spectacularly.

She encouraged her son’s passions: photography, writing, and a love for railroads and road trips (the latter two sparked by father Chuck, who led the family on weekend outings to San Diego, Barstow and Cajon Pass). Even though she never learned to drive, Jill took Elrond on train rides around the west, to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, and elsewhere, patiently tagging along as they visited rail yards and rode behind historic steam locomotives.

For two decades she worked at Fontana Christian School in different duties -- cafeteria manager, cook, and day care aide – but she was known by generations of students as a happy, loving presence who cared for them as if they were her own children. Following the closure of Fontana Christian School in 2004, Jill worked at Bloomington Christian School through 2012.

In 1997, Jill escaped a terrible health scare when she survived ovarian cancer. She devoted herself to volunteering at American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” fundraiser walks. She seemed to always catch the eye of local photographers and racked up dozens of newspaper appearances after every walk!

In her later years, she suffered from liver disease. In 2015 she moved to Terracina Post-Acute in Redlands, where she found new life. Jill was freed from the stresses of caring for a house and discovered that she could once again be a caretaker to people – her greatest passion. Nancy Jill (now being called by her first name “Nancy”) was still mobile and independent, and she helped the staff by wheeling fellow residents around the facility, offering them encouragement, praying with them and hosting Bible studies led by her nephew Damon. She was named president of the Terracina Residents’ Council and became an advocate for her extended family, especially those who could not speak for themselves. When not wielding her gavel at meetings, “Fancy Nancy” (as some staff loved to call her) was regularly seen cruising the halls and giving out hugs to staff and residents alike.

She also kept busy dining out with family and friends, attending holiday events, and even attending Star Wars premieres with her son and granddaughter Kathryn. A lifelong Dodger fan, Nancy’s son & family took her on regular outings to games, and she cheered in person when the team celebrated a playoff clinch in 2017. Three years later, she was thrilled to see her team finally score a World Series championship after a 32-year drought.

Nancy Jill was one of a kind, God’s most special angel on Earth who loved everyone she met. She never lost her Berkeley values of progressive thinking; she taught us the importance of faith and modeled Jesus’ teachings of unconditional love for all, while never losing her sense of fun. She is back with Chuck, her true love, her parents, and other family members who have boldly gone before her.

She leaves behind son Elrond, beloved daughter-in-law Laura and granddaughter Kathryn Grace; sister-in-law Maddie Chero; brother Ray (Judy) Brown; half-sister Jane (Mike) Brand; nephew Damon (Jeane) Chero and great niece Mallory; niece Allison (Matt) Snellings and great nieces Kelsey and Brookelynn and great nephew Ethan; cousins Pam, Terry, and Connie, and their families; and a world of people who are better for knowing her and who instantly smile when they hear her name.

“Bright and shiny” was one of the phrases Nancy Jill repeated during her final conversations with her son. Heaven is already brighter and shinier with her joy and radiance.

A celebration of life will be held later in 2021. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society at https://www.sbrhs.org/donate/current-needs.html, or to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Terracina Post-Acute in Redlands for their loving care during the last six years.