Nancy (Shave) Wigley, age 91, of Falmouth, died peacefully on June 2 with family by her side. Daughter of Lewis C. and Ruth F. (McLeod) Shave, she was born in Brockton, MA and had a happy childhood in Brockton and East Falmouth (Davisville), MA where her family spent summers. Her love of nature and the outdoors began at an early age while combing the nearby salt ponds for quahogs and the fields for blueberries.
She was a graduate of Brockton, MA schools and the Chandler School for Women in Boston. Nancy started her career as an administrative assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory and was later employed by the Falmouth School System for 24 years. While in Woods Hole, she met Roland L. Wigley and they married in May 1956 at the Methodist Church, Main Street, Falmouth. They were married 64 years.
Upon retirement, she completed a course at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History to become a Certified Master Naturalist and led field walks for the Museum. She and Susan W. Carr of Brewster co-authored “Trailside Treasures” and “Looking at Lichens”, with proceeds going to the Museum.
She spent many happy years volunteering and sharing knowledge on the plants and animals of Cape Cod. In addition to the museum, Nancy was active with the Botany Club of Cape and Islands, the New England Botanical Club, the Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, the Green Briar Nature Center, and the New England Wildflower Society.
Nancy enjoyed hiking, camping, canoeing, bicycling, and kayaking on Cape Cod with Appalachian Mountain Club friends. She took pleasure in traveling and took many Elderhostel trips to locations known for spectacular flora and fauna. And, most recently she relished spending time with friends at the Falmouth Senior Center and was grateful to the volunteer drivers of Neighborhood Falmouth.
She is survived by daughters Cynthia R. Domack and Susan E. Wigley (husband Jay Burnett) of Falmouth. She also leaves an American Field Service daughter, Harumi Akao, from Tokyo, Japan, who lived with the Wigley family during part of her stay in the US. She leaves brother Paul A. Shave (wife Mary), of Belize, sister-in-law Charlet E. Roskovics of North Falmouth, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by siblings Robert L. Shave, David W. Shave, and Meredith J. Gassett.
At her request, no service will be held. Nancy will be buried in the Churchyard Cemetery in Woods Hole. Donations may be made in her memory to the following organizations that were dear to her heart: The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (Endowment Fund), Brewster, MA or the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon), Wellfleet, MA.
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