Nancy Jane Curnow

Curnow, Nancy J, age 84, August 1,2022. Beloved wife of the late Charles. Perfect mother of Dawn (Jerry) Gottschalk and Linda (Tim) Brohl. Proud grandmother of Christopher (Rachel Keylon) and Matthew (Chantal Grugel). Loving sister of the late Laura Ann (Ranny) Menzie, Ellen Scott and Sharon (Cookie) Moffett. She is survived by many special nephews, nieces, and others who called her ‘Grans’.

Born in St. Clair County, Michigan, Nancy was the second of four girls. Left motherless at the age of 8, her childhood was spent in many different foster homes, group homes and orphanages. After attending multiple schools, she graduated in 1955 from Lake Orion High School.

She met her husband Chuck, and they were married at St. John’s Episcopal church in Detroit in 1957. His position with Chrysler/NATO took them to Italy and Turkey. It was there that she got the travel bug and also became a mother. Returning to the states in 1962 they settled in Warren, Michigan and she became a full time mother to her daughters Dawn and Linda. She was the neighborhood ‘helping hands’ mom, Girl Scout leader, and school volunteer. She spent those formative years reconnecting with her sisters, nurturing her family, and foraging many friendships. She took evening classes at Macomb Community College where she earned her Commercial and Fine Arts Degree. She continued to hone her art skills and even had a cartoon strip published.

She spent summers at their cottage on Barnes Lake, always hosting family and friends. After Chuck passed away, she joined Sailing Singles and took to the water. She crewed sailing boats during the Port Huron Mackinaw races. She spent valuable time with her grandchildren, going on trips every school holiday break, and hosting summers at the lake with their friends.

Born with an artistic talent, she became more involved with her artwork in her later years. She was an active member of the Warren Tri-County Art, Lakeside Pallet Club and The Detroit Society of Painters and Sculptors. Besides her love of painting she also enjoyed golf, lime key pie (as she always called it), playing cards, reading, gardening, boutique and gallery hopping, theater, and PBS.

Never saying no, she traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, Europe, China, Canada, and many of the states with her children, grandchildren, sisters and friends. Her sense of humor, passion for the arts, love of family and friends, and desire for adventure was deep.

Put some beads in your hair, dress up with some bling, buy a piece of original art, pour a glass (or 2) of Merlot, and “if you can’t dance…jump!”

We invite you to a Celebration of Life , on Sunday, October 30, at Villa Penna, 43985 Hayes Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. Greetings at 11am, luncheon at noon. Please text an rsvp to 248-568-3726, so we can be assured of the proper amount of seating. Thank you.

In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity close to your heart, or Make-A-Wish, which was close to hers.