Nancy Lee (Olivey) Whitaker

Nancy was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 18, 1935. She attended Indianapolis School No. 66, Indianapolis where she met her future husband, John Whitaker. She graduated from Shortridge High School in 1953. She graduated from The St Vincent’s School of Nursing in 1956 and completed her B.S. in nursing from the University of St. Francis in 1978.

Nancy and John were married on June 8, 1957. They were happily married for 58 years until John’s death in 2016.

Nancy was a Registered Nurse during her entire career, working primarily at St. Vincent Hospital as well as providing private nursing care for several years. She was a proud member of the St. Vincent’s School of Nursing Alumni Association as well as the St. Vincent Hospital Guild and enjoyed attending events for many years. Nancy and John enjoyed connecting with other Shortridge alumni and planning and attending many class reunions. She had many interests including card games and crossword puzzles. Her favorite was Scrabble which she continued to play online and was soundly beating her niece and daughter until her most recent illness. She loved all family gatherings and talking with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband John R. Whitaker, parents John Harry and Mary Hess Olivey, brother John H. Olivey Jr, sister Mary Jane Olivey Scott and brothers in law Ronald A. Scott and James G. Whitaker along with a niece Ellen Scott and nephews Mark, Brett and Bradley Scott.

Nancy is survived by her children Lynn (John) Jones, J. David Whitaker and Mary (Vernon) Mikalouski, Grandchildren Martin (Ashlea), Reed, Allison (Michael) and William Jones, David F. Whitaker, Joseph (Alexis) and Laurel (Zach) Mikalouski, Great grandchildren Gabriel, Zoe, Cooper, Layla, Zachary, Callie, Chloe, Savannah, Kyalie and Michael, sister in law Linda Whitaker, nephew Wayne A Scott and niece Jane Whitaker.

Celebration of Life services will be held on April 25, 2026, at 1:00pm at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W 38th St, with visitation from 11:00am – 1:00pm.