Nancy J. Tennstedt, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 30, 2018 with her daughters at her side. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Charles R. (Charlie) Tennstedt, her sister Louise Beard and her granddaughter Stephanie Crispinelli. She is survived by her sister Patricia (Patsy) McCree (Donald), her daughters Cindy Ackerman, Lin Crispinelli (Lenny) and Debbie McFarland, her grandchildren Michael Crispinelli (Nicole), Nicholas Crispinelli, Linsey McFarland, Matthew McFarland and Madison McFarland, many nieces and nephews, her ex-husband and lifelong friend Welles Murphey Jr. and her therapy grand dog, Iris Ackerman.
Nancy was born on December 27, 1934 to Ford H. Jones and Elizabeth Driggs Jones. She graduated from The Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, RI in 1953 and received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Childhood Education Foundation in NYC.
Nancy taught nursery school at the now historic Little Red School House in New Canaan, CT. She married Welles Murphey in 1955. They lived and raised their daughters in New Canaan where Nancy became an active volunteer.
Nancy married Eastern Airlines Captain Charles R. Tennstedt in 1982. They moved to Spruce Creek Fly-In Community in Port Orange, FL where Nancy immersed herself in charitable activities such as Support Services, Garden Club and the Spruce Creek Update magazine. Nancy organized blood drives, volunteered at Halifax Hospital and was a member of the International Order of Characters (IOC). Her efforts for the Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County made her their single largest contributor. She was active with Stephanie’s Mission, a humanitarian non-profit established following the death of her granddaughter, Stephanie in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Nancy traveled to Jamaica eight times with Stephanie’s Mission to build schools for underprivileged children. She traveled to New York annually to help first graders assemble Steph’s Comfort Kits for the American Red Cross.
Nancy and Charlie traveled extensively by plane, sailboat, motorhome and ocean liner and visited every state in the US and many countries abroad.
Nancy was known for her beautiful smile, kindness and sending cards filled with confetti. She enjoyed her Bunco group, Lunch Bunch, morning walks with friends, singing in the Spruce Creek choir and throwing parties…any chance to be with people. She loved her family above all. Nancy organized an annual mother-daughter theatre trip to NYC for her friends and their daughters. She never missed an opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Lala”.
Nancy’s life was challenged by a rare, untreatable neuro-degenerative disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). She fought it like she lived her life – with optimism, humility and vigor. She will be dearly missed.
A celebration of Nancy’s life is being planned for February in Port Orange. For a lasting tribute, the family suggests a contribution in Nancy’s memory to Stephanie’s Mission at Food For The Poor (PO Box 979005, Coconut Creek, FL 33097) or Phelps Hospice (701 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591).
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