A woman’s tireless, unrelenting devotion to the community is what brought hundreds of people to Kiama Anglican Church on Friday, to honour a life well-lived.
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Nancy Waters OAM passed away at 86, surrounded by loving family members on Monday.
At the funeral, lifelong friend John O’Dwyer spent minutes reading a list of community groups she volunteered for.
This extensive list formed from a desire to connect and build relationships.
“A lady once asked Nancy how she knew so many people,” Mr O’Dwyer said.
“She replied, ‘Because I’m interested in people.’”
Nancy’s home in Kiama was a welcoming place.
“Mum’s home was always open to all people,” her daughter Brenda said.
“There was a constant flow of visitors, I often felt like the parlour maid serving tea.”
Granddaughter Melanie Hart was always amazed by her nan’s ability to connect with people.
“Nan was Facebook before Facebook was invented,” Melanie said.
“She knew all the latest news. Her landline was constantly ringing hot.”
Melanie had a special connection with her nan.
She would come home from a night out in Kiama, debrief about boys, while her nan would sit in her rocking chair and take it all in.
“My theory was, I’ll tell nan now what I’m up to before she hears about it, or reads about it in the Independent on Wednesday,” Melanie said.
The funeral allowed for relatives and friends to farewell a beloved woman.
“Nan, the kettle is on, now it’s time for us to celebrate you, like you have cherished and loved us,” Melanie said.