Nancy’s Obituary
Nancy Kazue Kitagawa, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2022, in Oxford, NS, at the age of 87. Nancy was the eldest of five children of the late Sokichi (Bert) and Naka Murakami. She is survived by her four younger sisters, MaryAnn, Marcia, Donna, Debbie, and many wonderful nieces, nephews and their children. She was lovingly devoted to her three children, Brent (Laurie), Lisa (Steve), Neil (Paul), and her five grandchildren; Nikko (predeceased), Ryan (Mutsumi), Alex (Melissa), Jason, and Kate. She had a special place in her heart for her two great-grandchildren Kiyo and Tome, a friend to many and loving ‘mother’ to her cat Boo. Nancy had a long career as a much-loved public-school teacher with the TDSB. She worked as an elementary home classroom teacher for over 20 years and educated herself further as a specialist in ESL working in the inner-city schools. Her classrooms were always welcoming and safe; she created learning environments where taking risks were encouraged and saw her students as individuals with a personal story. Nancy was often stopped by past students that fondly remembered her as one of their favourites. Nancy had a passion for art and worked with many different mediums to express herself. On top of her teaching degree, Nancy graduated from York University with her M. Ed which she completed over years of night school and summer courses all while working as a full-time teacher and a single mother of three. Art was an expression of her creativity. She was always open to new ideas and experiences. In the later part of her life she bought a summer home along the St. Lawrence river in the beautiful Gaspe region. She loved the fresh salt air, the ebb and flow of the tide, sunrises, painting, and a re-found love of gardening, even with the challenges of the rough terrain. She used to tell us that Cloridome made her feel like she was living, instead of sitting around and waiting to die. Nancy was never one for ‘sitting’ around. She lived life to the fullest, always giving of herself and an advocate for others, she enriched all of the lives of those who were lucky enough to have been in hers. In lieu of a traditional memorial service, Nancy has requested to “have a big celebration of her life” which will take place in early 2023.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Nancy Kitagawa 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Oxford, Province: Nova Scotia