Nancy Ann Starrett
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Nancy Ann Starrett, 63, of Blue Springs, MO passed away January 9, 2023 at home from cancer. Memorial services will be held in Milwaukee at a future date.Â
Nancy was born July 30, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nancy worked in insurance as an adult educator. She volunteered to join many organizations that were aiding in the battle against cancer.Â
She was preceded in death by: mother, Eleanor Tobolski and father, Edward Tobolski.Â
Survivors include: brother, Thomas Tobolski and her sister, Kathryn Haushalter.Â
Memorial contributions are suggested to: the cancer society.Â
As I sit here trying to think about what to write, or if I should write, I think, what would Nancy say? Sheâd say something like, âDonât worry about it. If you feel like writing then write but not a big dealâ. Because that was (I hate âwasâ) Nancy. She always made other comfortable.
When Nancy first married my brother, we werenât close at all. She was a career woman who knew how to dress, fix her hair, etc. and I was a mother of two toddlers who wore jeans and flannels most of the time and managed to get a shower in every day. It was many many years later when we became friends who emailed every single day and checked on each other if we didnât at least send a note. A funny friendship I know, but it worked for us. We also saw each other in person, of course. Nancy was always there for me. I never had to ask. In fact sometimes I would tell her ânoâ but sheâd show up anyway. Sheâs helped me clean, pack and unpack when we moved (WHO does that?) and of course, did more work than I did. Our mantra, after she left and we couldn’t find things was, “Da**it, Nancy, where did you put that? “. She came with me to the hospital every single day when I was a day patient in Denver. She showed up after I was an inpatient at the hospital and cooked and cleaned for us and SHE was undergoing chemo for her cancer at that time. I mean, CâMON!
We also had lots of fun together with our respective husbands, Gary, my brother, and my husband Richard. We went to Italy together where we drank lots of wine and ate lots of gelato. And to Puerto Vallarta, where we laid in the sun, swam in the pool, and drank bloody maryâs at 10 am sharp! We were planning on going on a girlâs trip this spring to celebrate but, of course, someone (God?) had other plans. I hate that.
I, along with Tressa and Chad, was privileged to be with Nancy as she was passing. Even then she was thinking about others. We chatted about her life and ALL of the things she had (I hate âhadâ) done in her life. All the travel, volunteer work, trips with Tressa and Chad. She had actually done more than I even knew about. I mean, what a great life! It just ended too soon, da**it.
So now I live my life with WWND, what would Nancy do? Sheâs not here to help me find something to wear to her memorial do. Sheâs not here to give her opinion on a swimsuit for this summer. Sheâs not here to complain about our husbands or to make plans for a trip. So I talk to her in my head (or sometimes outloud). She was my best friend and I miss her every.single.day. I hope sheâs up there gallivanting around with her mom and aunt but we miss her here. ?????