Nancy Marie Keegan

Nancy Marie Keegan (Duffey) was born in Madision, WI and lived with us to a blessed age of 86 years young and passed away peacefully at her home, with her family present, on the morning of 09/24/2021 in Merritt Island, FL.

Nancy Marie Keegan (Duffey) was married to Mark James Keegan on September 10, 1960. Their first child was born in 1961. She continued to have children through 1974. She loved being a wife, mother, protector (“be safe and watch your surroundings”), and caregiver more than anything, however there was one other job we all knew she loved being a part of and that was a seasonal factory worker at the “Wisconsin Cheeseman”. When she moved to Merritt Island, FL in 1986, while still raising her two youngest children, she fell back on her true passion again and provided protection, love, education and smiles to many other children’s lives as a child-care educator. She retired from work at age 77. A few things she loved are: her immediate and extended family, kids and was always one at heart herself, Notre Dame and Wisconsin Badger football, baking cookies and pies, attending sporting events, shepard’s pie, fresh cinnamon bun donuts, raspberries, cherry pie and ice cream, dolls, creating elaborate Christmas villages in her home and decorating for all holidays, sewing, the natural curls in her hair(from her mom), orchids and roses, hanging laundry on the line, gardening, mowing the lawn, farms and farmland, being a detective and always finding anything we lost in the home, car rides and road trips, art and craft shows, stray cats, blue-jays and morning-doves and red cardinals, window shopping and investigating for the best deals, old-western movies, horses, angels, butterflies, her cedar hope chest, playing basketball with little Mark until long after the street lights have come on, her Irish heritage and most of all holding her “hubby’s” hand. As well as being a protector to all she was also an avid shenanigan enthusiast and loved a good jokester or to just laugh in general. She loved her Catholic Faith and it showed in providing that perfect wink she did while she smiled, kind-heart and desire to make every person she met happy. “She is so sweet”, is a common phrase we all heard our whole life when someone would describe Nancy.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Mark James Keegan, her forever-loved children Lisa Keegan Dolan (fiancé Michael Samons), Patrick (Carrie) Keegan, Sean Keegan, Timothy (Vanessa) Keegan, Brian Keegan, Kelly Keegan, and her youngest grandchild/son who lived with her, was co-raised by her, who became her full-time co-caregiver, companion and friend during her decline and who also is his mom in many hearts and minds, including Nancy’s, Mark Johnathan Keegan.

Her legacy of grandchildren: Timmy Keegan Jr., Rachael Dolan, Breanne Keegan, Michael Dolan, Sabrina Keegan and Tanner Samons, Kaitlin Bonner Thompson; Her Great grandchildren: Mya Ester Winkelman, Skyler Alexandria Rose Gomes, Rayden Mikael Anthony Leo; Additionally survived by: Her brother Patrick (Elizabeth) Duffey, nephew Timothy Patrick Duffey, neice Katherine Mary Duffey, David Dolan (father to grandchildren and friend to all), two service dogs, Jasper Keegan and Shiloh Keegan, and many other nieces, nephews and cousins, that are honored, respected and loved.

Pre-deceased and now eating at the supper table in heaven by her parents Martha Esser-Duffey and Edwin Duffey, “Uncle Jim” Esser and “Aunt Marie” Esser, Brother and sister-in-law Phil and Charlotte Duffey, Grandchild Christopher Dolan, two service dogs Gabriel Keegan and Yehanaton Keegan, and all remaining decedents she has memories of, to lengthy to name, but who are all now definitely sharing stories, laughs and hugs with her in that joyful land of heaven they all share now together, looking upon us as angels and butterflies, as we down here on earth wait for our chance to eat, share stories, hugs and laughs at that table with you all.

We miss you dearly every day and thank you for every opportunity you gave us to be loved and nurtured by you.

Celebration of life and viewing will start at 10:30am, with a mass starting at 12:00 pm on Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 1940 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953. Flowers are accepted and appreciated for viewing and can be sent directly to the church. Any items that would like to be placed in the casket for her will end at 12:00pm, prior to mass starting, where the casket will remain closed forever-more. For members unable to attend, the viewing and service will be live streamed at divinemercychurch.org where you will find a link for live streaming halfway down on the front page of the website.

Directly after the mass service, a police escort will take us to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1 S, Mims, FL 32754, where there will be a short 20-minute celebration of life under a covered pavilion prior to her body being sent to its final resting spot.