Nancy Marion Stanley

Nancy Marion Stanley, age 86, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2026. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of the late Leo T. Norville and Marion O’Boyle Norville.

In 1961, Nancy married her college sweetheart, James C. Stanley. They met during their early undergraduate days at the University of Michigan and built a life together in Ann Arbor, which would remain their home for over six decades. During their 65 years of marriage, Nancy and Jim raised three children, Timothy, Jeffrey, and Sarah, and instilled in them a deep commitment to service in law, medicine, and education.

Nancy was known for her kindness, her joy, and her smile. Many lives were made better simply by her presence. She was a special education teacher for more than a quarter-century in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, bringing patience and warmth to her work with children and their families. After retiring, she remained deeply involved in the community as a docent at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, an active participant in University Musical Society affairs, a member of P.E.O., and a faithful parishioner at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor.

Nancy and Jim shared a lifelong love of travel, visiting six of the world’s seven continents and making regular trips to see their children on both coasts. Yet she was always happy to return to the rich culture and close community of Ann Arbor.

Nancy enjoyed many things: sunsets over Lake Michigan from her family’s summer home, more than 50 years of family gatherings at Camp Michigania, long conversations about life with her children and grandchildren, musical theater in New York City, classical music at Hill Auditorium, morning walks for miles with longtime friends, and quiet dinners for two with Jim.

She is survived by her husband, her sons, Timothy Stanley and his wife, Stacy, and Jeffrey Stanley and his wife, Kate; her grandchildren, Anne, Charles, Theodore, and Lauren; her sister, Diane Lueking and her son, Michael Lueking and husband Richard Wessel; and her brother, Timothy Norville and his partner JoAnn deMatteo. She was preceded in death by her cherished daughter, Sarah A. Russo, wife of Raymond Russo.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date.