Nancy Lee Mandragos

On June 22, 2013, Nancy Billedeaux Mandragos, age 87, born in Caldwell TX, and living in Brandywine MD, passed away. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Nancy had spent her childhood years growing up in Browning MT and Seattle WA where she graduated from high school. She then moved to Los Angeles CA where she worked as a riveter and a courier at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and met her future husband, Denny. After marriage in Los Angeles, the couple moved to San Luis Obispo CA as her husband continued training and then to Washington DC to continue schooling and reunite with his family. Nancy continued to work until Denny got his engineering degree and was commissioned an Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps of the Naval Reserve. She then transitioned to raising a family and volunteering extensively in the Brandywine MD community.

She was a very active member of the Chapel of the Incarnation, St Thomas’ Episcopal Parish serving in various roles over the years but most notably as the Food Chairman of the annual parish antique show. Her expert needlework skills were constantly on display as she created items for Christmas bazaars and made the altar hangings at the Chapel as well as crocheted sweater sets for many of the chapel’s newborns. Later, she became active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Baden MD, again supervising the food area at several special functions (such as the annual Auction and a few dinners) and helped out as well with Sunday School and reading various lessons.

Over the years she actively supported her husband’s government and naval careers. As her children were growing up she became heavily involved with the Baden Volunteer Fire Department. Her first involvement was in the Ladies Auxiliary and its extensive fund raising activities. She held many offices including two terms as President and later ran for Chaplain and remained in that position until her demise. In the late 1970’s she joined the Fire Department, were she trained to become an Emergency Medical Technician. She maintained her EMT status and continued to ride the Ambulance into her mid 70’s. In addition to responding to calls, Nancy trained the members in First Aid and Advanced First Aid until they were required to become EMT’s. In addition to being active at her own company, she held the position as Chaplain in the Prince George’s County Ladies Auxiliary from 1999 until 2011. She was presented with a plaque and a title of Chaplain Emeritus. In 2012, she was honored for all her volunteer work by the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association and Ladies Auxiliary and was later nominated and honored by the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame again for her dedication as a volunteer.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents Greeley Billedeaux and Nannie King Billedeaux, loving husband Constantine (Denny) Mandragos, son Dennis Mandragos, grandson Michael Ward, and sister Rose Billedeaux Parker. She is survived by sister Dorothy Billedeaux Morris, brother King Billedeaux, children Niki (Walt) Purkoski, Toni (Ray) Pierce, Stephen (Charlotte) Mandragos, six grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. On Tuesday, July 2, at 7 p.m. a memorial service will be held at the Baden Volunteer Fire Department, with refreshments starting at 6 p.m. A private interment will occur later at St Thomas Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Baden Volunteer Fire Department.