Nancy Marie Conner Helton passed away on June 24, 2021 peacefully in her home after an extended illness. She was born in Mobile county surrounded by family in their small farmhouse. She left this world in a similar way, in her dream retirement home, surrounded by family, with her dog Bo laying by her bedside with her bed facing her swing, bird feeder and statue of the Blessed Mother where she prayed the Rosary daily. She was a country girl adept at handmade quilts, growing and canning produce, and spent her Sundays at Mass and afternoons with family and friends.
She was born on August 2, 1944 to Nettie Quill "Sally" Hudson Conner and James Patrick Conner, Jr. She attended Little Flower Catholic School and later graduated from Bishop Toolen Institute for Girls in 1962. She attended Providence School of Nursing and graduated in 1965 with her RN diploma degree fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She dated and later married Otho Wayne Helton on August 27, 1966 whom she was married to for almost 40 years. She had a remarkable nursing career, starting at Doctor's hospital (now USA Women's and Children's), as a floor nurse but soon switched to surgical specialty. She attended school at night and on weekends to further her education and obtained her BSN from the University of South Alabama in 1984, and her MSN in 1987. She simultaneously opened Knollwood Park Hospital as the Operating Room Director and remained there until transitioning to a similar position at Providence hospital. During this time, she obtained her CNOR and CRNFA and at the time was one of only 5 RN's in the state of Alabama to hold both credentials. In 1993, she transitioned to the same position at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center where she worked until retiring in February of 2014. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau (the Honor's Society of Nursing), was honored by the Mobile County Nurses' Society in 1993 for her contributions to the profession of Nursing, and was elected as a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 1995.
Nancy was very active in her church life. She was a devout Catholic and attended St. Dominic Catholic Church for 40 years spending many of those years singing in the church choir. She provided her children with a Catholic education and showed by example how close her relationship was to Our Lord and the Blessed Mother. When she achieved her dream of moving to "the country" where she built her retirement home in Chickasaw, she joined the church community of St. Thomas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Otho Wayne Helton, her grandson Sean Paul Kennedy, and her brother James Conner. She is survived by her daughters Katheryn M. Kennedy (Dr. John Cascone), Karen E. Cranford (John), and Kimberly A. Arden (Derek). Fourteen grandchildren survived her namely, Elizabeth Kennedy, Mary Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Sarah Kennedy, Emma Kennedy, Christina Cranford, Jennifer Cranford, Theresa Cranford, Lauren Cranford, Claireese Arden, Dane Arden, Sophie Arden, and Gabriel Arden. Her surviving siblings include Andrew (Jackie) Conner, Sam (Gayle) Conner, and Ann Box, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, church members, and a multitude of former beloved coworkers and friends from her nursing career. Last but not least, she is leaving behind her dream retirement home with her beloved red birds, who she fed and enjoyed daily, and her favorite dog Bo who was at her bedside with her family as she passed.
Family will receive friends and family at Pinecrest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway on Monday June 28 from 5:00 pm until 7:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday June 29, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Boykin Blvd at 12:00 pm with interment to follow at Pinecrest Cemetery on Dauphin Island Parkway. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Chickasaw, AL or the Alzheimer's Association.
