Obituary for Nancy D. (Sterling) Lundquist
Nancy Dixon (Sterling) Lundquist
March 19, 2021
Nancy D. (Sterling) Lundquist sparkled with a true love of family and life. Recently of Kearsarge NH, she passed away with peace on Friday, March 19, 2021 at the age of 89. She leaves behind her loving husband and best friend of almost 60 years Roy Alan Lundquist, son Eric and wife Debra of Boxborough, and daughter Kristin and husband Michael Montemagno of Littleton. She was a dear sister to the late James Victor Sterling, Jr., and to Susanne (Sterling) Howard of Middleboro. Grandma will be missed so very much by Kyle, Hannah, Brendan, Kathryn and Karalyn who all adored her, each with their own special bond. Aunt Nancy was caring to many nieces and nephews, and was a super fun great aunt as well.
Born in Quincy, MA on December 22, 1931, Nancy was the very proud daughter of the late James Victor Diamond Jubilee and Ruth (Payzant) Sterling. Family heritage was especially meaningful. Her father arrived in Boston from Cork, Ireland with his widowed mother and six siblings. Her mother was born in Boston to parents from Nova Scotia. Nancy was also a proud Mayflower descendant of William Brewster. One of her most prized possessions was a Payzant genealogy book authored by her Aunt Marion Payzant. As a child, Nancy visited Nova Scotia, and will be blessed to join her ancestral family, especially a few cherished aunts who, with her parents, left an imprint on her heart and instilled family values forever.
Nancy grew up in Wollaston in a house built by her Grandfather Payzant, attended the Wollaston Grammar School and the Baptist Church, and spent summer vacations in Brewster, Cape Cod, with a summer job at Chatham Bars Inn. Her absolute love for social and service clubs likely began with the Bluebirds group, then the Campfire Girls, and she was even selected by the Wollaston Garden Club to a be a junior hostess. For high school she felt fortunate to attend the Woodward School for Girls, which always held a special place in her heart, leading to 50th reunion honors.
She fondly remembered her years at Boston University in the Medical Secretarial Program. Especially being invited to the Kappa Omega sorority and meeting lifelong friends, they often gathered for fun on the lake at the Sterling’s new summer home in Lakeville. Those friendships remained sacred for her life.
The love for skiing and golf began at the Furnace Brook Golf Club, near Nancy’s home. While in high school, she earned a spot in the Massachusetts Amateur Golf Tournament. And the golf club hills were perfect for her penchant for winter fun as well. As a college student, she joined the Prospectors Ski Club in Waltham where she first met Roy. Years later, while working as a secretary at the New England Baptist Hospital, she started to date Roy on New Year’s Eve of 1959 at the new lodge of the Prospectors in North Conway, NH. They married on September 9, 1961. The ski club and friends became a central part of life as they settled in Bedford to raise a family, and Nancy earned her fair share of trophies at the annual ski club race, including the senior Golden Girls award. She skied and golfed until she was 88 years old.
Summer days were happily spent at Bedford’s Wedgewood Swim & Tennis Club, where Nancy enjoyed tennis leagues, but maybe social events even more. Nancy was constantly involved within the Bedford community, for the Santa Program on Christmas Eve, in the garden club, hosting gourmet dinner groups, and so much more in endless support of Eric & Kristin’s sports and activities. As a family, they attended the First Church of Christ Congregational in Bedford.
Nancy and Roy planted new roots in Kearsarge, NH 28 years ago, and were welcomed heartily to the community. Nancy brought her boundless energy, talent, spunky spirit, and friendship to each group, club and commitment that she gave her heart to. To name a few: the Mountain Garden Club, Jen’s Friends Charity, Ladies Golf Leagues, the Jackson Community Church Women’s Group, the Polar Express event for Wounded Warriors, Art in Bloom, and the Jackson Painted Ladies. And she stayed true to the Prospectors Ski Club and friends, with ski days at Wildcat Mountain, and dinner on many Saturday nights. A place was always set for Nancy and Roy at their table, and in their hearts.
Nancy was adventurous, always exploring new places, but also loved returning to Nova Scotia for the family history. One of those trips was made with her brother Jim and wife Gwen, and her sister Sue with husband Rod. They shared other travels as well, and gathered many special memories in the later years of their lives. Nancy was even a matchmaker for the widowed Jim with Rosemary, an old high school sweetheart. There were the typical summer vacations with her young family, and later the eventual trips down south, but not until ski season was over! Above all, Nancy and Roy’s many ski trips out West, to Canada, and to Europe were all time favorites, especially the family trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming, pre-grandchildren.
Christmas. The absolute most beloved of all, and Nancy spread Christmas cheer like no other. Rudolph, the actual mounted reindeer, was first hung over her doorway in Quincy, and every year since at each home, and now at Kristin’s home. Christmas Day traditions included Aunt Nell’s stocking and tons of family fun. Over the years, her children and grandchildren made magic happen by gathering for family outings to begin the season, traveling to the decorated surprise location for that year. And a house full of family for winter ski weekends simply filled Grandma with joy.
Nancy was a shining example of how life should be lived. She was loved by all who called her friend. She was cherished by her family. She was the love of Roy’s life.
The family extends an invitation to visiting hours on Thursday, March 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue, Acton MA, with Covid-19 protocol to be followed. There will be a private funeral service at the Congregational Church of Littleton, MA, followed by burial at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, MA. A public memorial service is being planned for later in the spring at the Jackson Community Church in Jackson, NH. Donations in Nancy's honor are welcome for the charity of your choice, but she was particularly fond of the Salvation Army, and was dedicated to supporting Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation, PO Box 1842, North Conway, NH 03860, https://jensfriends.org.
With love for Nancy, Mom, and Grandma.
The sun, has gone, to bed and so must I.
So long, farewell, aufwiedersehn, goodbye.
Memorial Page: www.actonfuneralhome.com
Please scroll down the page to select the link for the funeral service program from Friday, March 26th at the Congregational Church of Littleton.
March 19, 2021
Nancy D. (Sterling) Lundquist sparkled with a true love of family and life. Recently of Kearsarge NH, she passed away with peace on Friday, March 19, 2021 at the age of 89. She leaves behind her loving husband and best friend of almost 60 years Roy Alan Lundquist, son Eric and wife Debra of Boxborough, and daughter Kristin and husband Michael Montemagno of Littleton. She was a dear sister to the late James Victor Sterling, Jr., and to Susanne (Sterling) Howard of Middleboro. Grandma will be missed so very much by Kyle, Hannah, Brendan, Kathryn and Karalyn who all adored her, each with their own special bond. Aunt Nancy was caring to many nieces and nephews, and was a super fun great aunt as well.
Born in Quincy, MA on December 22, 1931, Nancy was the very proud daughter of the late James Victor Diamond Jubilee and Ruth (Payzant) Sterling. Family heritage was especially meaningful. Her father arrived in Boston from Cork, Ireland with his widowed mother and six siblings. Her mother was born in Boston to parents from Nova Scotia. Nancy was also a proud Mayflower descendant of William Brewster. One of her most prized possessions was a Payzant genealogy book authored by her Aunt Marion Payzant. As a child, Nancy visited Nova Scotia, and will be blessed to join her ancestral family, especially a few cherished aunts who, with her parents, left an imprint on her heart and instilled family values forever.
Nancy grew up in Wollaston in a house built by her Grandfather Payzant, attended the Wollaston Grammar School and the Baptist Church, and spent summer vacations in Brewster, Cape Cod, with a summer job at Chatham Bars Inn. Her absolute love for social and service clubs likely began with the Bluebirds group, then the Campfire Girls, and she was even selected by the Wollaston Garden Club to a be a junior hostess. For high school she felt fortunate to attend the Woodward School for Girls, which always held a special place in her heart, leading to 50th reunion honors.
She fondly remembered her years at Boston University in the Medical Secretarial Program. Especially being invited to the Kappa Omega sorority and meeting lifelong friends, they often gathered for fun on the lake at the Sterling’s new summer home in Lakeville. Those friendships remained sacred for her life.
The love for skiing and golf began at the Furnace Brook Golf Club, near Nancy’s home. While in high school, she earned a spot in the Massachusetts Amateur Golf Tournament. And the golf club hills were perfect for her penchant for winter fun as well. As a college student, she joined the Prospectors Ski Club in Waltham where she first met Roy. Years later, while working as a secretary at the New England Baptist Hospital, she started to date Roy on New Year’s Eve of 1959 at the new lodge of the Prospectors in North Conway, NH. They married on September 9, 1961. The ski club and friends became a central part of life as they settled in Bedford to raise a family, and Nancy earned her fair share of trophies at the annual ski club race, including the senior Golden Girls award. She skied and golfed until she was 88 years old.
Summer days were happily spent at Bedford’s Wedgewood Swim & Tennis Club, where Nancy enjoyed tennis leagues, but maybe social events even more. Nancy was constantly involved within the Bedford community, for the Santa Program on Christmas Eve, in the garden club, hosting gourmet dinner groups, and so much more in endless support of Eric & Kristin’s sports and activities. As a family, they attended the First Church of Christ Congregational in Bedford.
Nancy and Roy planted new roots in Kearsarge, NH 28 years ago, and were welcomed heartily to the community. Nancy brought her boundless energy, talent, spunky spirit, and friendship to each group, club and commitment that she gave her heart to. To name a few: the Mountain Garden Club, Jen’s Friends Charity, Ladies Golf Leagues, the Jackson Community Church Women’s Group, the Polar Express event for Wounded Warriors, Art in Bloom, and the Jackson Painted Ladies. And she stayed true to the Prospectors Ski Club and friends, with ski days at Wildcat Mountain, and dinner on many Saturday nights. A place was always set for Nancy and Roy at their table, and in their hearts.
Nancy was adventurous, always exploring new places, but also loved returning to Nova Scotia for the family history. One of those trips was made with her brother Jim and wife Gwen, and her sister Sue with husband Rod. They shared other travels as well, and gathered many special memories in the later years of their lives. Nancy was even a matchmaker for the widowed Jim with Rosemary, an old high school sweetheart. There were the typical summer vacations with her young family, and later the eventual trips down south, but not until ski season was over! Above all, Nancy and Roy’s many ski trips out West, to Canada, and to Europe were all time favorites, especially the family trip to Jackson Hole Wyoming, pre-grandchildren.
Christmas. The absolute most beloved of all, and Nancy spread Christmas cheer like no other. Rudolph, the actual mounted reindeer, was first hung over her doorway in Quincy, and every year since at each home, and now at Kristin’s home. Christmas Day traditions included Aunt Nell’s stocking and tons of family fun. Over the years, her children and grandchildren made magic happen by gathering for family outings to begin the season, traveling to the decorated surprise location for that year. And a house full of family for winter ski weekends simply filled Grandma with joy.
Nancy was a shining example of how life should be lived. She was loved by all who called her friend. She was cherished by her family. She was the love of Roy’s life.
The family extends an invitation to visiting hours on Thursday, March 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue, Acton MA, with Covid-19 protocol to be followed. There will be a private funeral service at the Congregational Church of Littleton, MA, followed by burial at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, MA. A public memorial service is being planned for later in the spring at the Jackson Community Church in Jackson, NH. Donations in Nancy's honor are welcome for the charity of your choice, but she was particularly fond of the Salvation Army, and was dedicated to supporting Jen's Friends Cancer Foundation, PO Box 1842, North Conway, NH 03860, https://jensfriends.org.
With love for Nancy, Mom, and Grandma.
The sun, has gone, to bed and so must I.
So long, farewell, aufwiedersehn, goodbye.
Memorial Page: www.actonfuneralhome.com
Please scroll down the page to select the link for the funeral service program from Friday, March 26th at the Congregational Church of Littleton.