Nancy Thoreson

Born on October 28, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nancy spent her childhood in Elmira, New York. Her happiest memories were of summers in Barneveld, where she rode horses, competed in horse shows, and explored the West Canada Creek. She never lost her appreciation for a beautiful horse. She often reminisced about those carefree days, the summers she spent working at the Croatan Inn in Nags Head with her treasured Aunt Lolly, and her time living in New York City.

Nancy came to Culpeper in 1974 and made it her home for the last 52 years. It was here that she raised her family, built lifelong friendships, and became part of the community she loved. She spent her career as a bookkeeper, working for Culpeper National Bank, Omni Services, Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, ENSAT, and, after retiring, more than a decade at Gilmore's Service Station. She enjoyed working, loved the people she met along the way, and never seemed quite ready to slow down.

She and her beloved husband, Jon, shared a love of travel, including unforgettable journeys aboard historic steam trains through the Colorado Rockies and an archaeological dig in the Southwest. Nancy and her lifelong friend, Margaret Gossweiler, filled the years with adventures to places such as Paris, Italy, and New Orleans. And if you spent more than five minutes with Nancy, you were sure to hear about her poodles or her granddaughter, Rebecca. She adored them both and was always happy to tell you why.

Nancy loved people, especially people who "had a story to tell." Sitting on a bus in Bermuda, the woman beside her was from Elmira; standing in line for chocolates in Charlottesville, the person behind her was from Horseheads, New York. Nancy delighted in those impossible little connections. What began as a conversation inevitably became another story to share.

She found endless humor in the absurdity of life and could have you laughing until you cried with stories that usually warranted, "You did what?" She laughed hardest when the joke was on herself and was never shy about using colorful language when the occasion called for it. Life was simply more interesting when Nancy was around.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Madeleine Gilbert, and by her husband, Jon Keith Thoreson, in 2003.

She is survived by her daughter, Laura Thoreson (Jason Daniels); her granddaughter, Rebecca Kenaga (Benjamin Dingus); her brothers, John Gilbert (Carole) and Thomas "Nick" Gilbert (Deborah); her nieces, Catherine Murdock, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sarah Gilbert, and Margaret Landa Gilbert; her great-nieces and great-nephews, Nick and Mimi Murdock, Sebastian, Magdalena, and Gael Landa Gilbert; and her cherished lifelong friend, Margaret Gossweiler.

Nancy often said that you are not truly gone until you are forgotten. Those who knew and loved her know that day will never come. The stories she told, the laughter she inspired, and the friendships she made will live on through everyone fortunate enough to have known her.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Culpeper Presbyterian Church. A celebration of Nancy's life will follow at Ferlazzo 1938, where family and friends are invited to share stories, memories, and, as Nancy would have wanted, plenty of laughter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Culpeper County Library or Carolina Poodle Rescue (carolinapoodlerescue.org), honoring two things Nancy dearly loved: books and poodles.

The world will be a little quieter without Mom, but we like to think she has already found someone with a story to tell.

Online condolences may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.

-----------