Nancy Kelley Van Schaik's Obituary
Nancy Kelley Van Schaik, age 86, passed away on October 29, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. She was born on April 22, 1937 in Richland Township, Pennsylvania, to Clara Elizabeth (Schilling) and Leslie Thomas Kelley. She married Harold Van Schaik, Sr. on June 4, 1960 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. In college, she trained as a dental assistant and worked for many top dentists and oral surgeons in the city.
Nancy was deeply devoted to God and to her church and church family. She was a longtime member of Our Redeemer Lutheran in Dallas where she played the organ for many years and sang in the church choir. Both of her sons are accomplished musicians, too. She volunteered for many years at the North Dallas Shared Ministries and assisted in running their dental clinic.
She loved to cook and bake and always made her own bread for her family and friends, filling the house with amazing smells. She was always taking care of others. After her husband passed in 2015, she continued to visit the residents of the Healthcare/Memory wing at the Forum, often playing the piano for sing-a-longs and during their dinner times. Nancy also loved animals, especially her beloved cat, "Puppy Cat", who kept her company at the Forum after her husband's passing.
Nancy is predeceased by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her sons, Harold Van Schaik, Jr. and Thomas Van Schaik (Alissa Sherry) and grandchildren, Robin Benson-Linek and Cynthia Blair Howard.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations, in Nancy's name, to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Dallas) or North Dallas Shared Ministries. She will be sincerely missed by her loving family, devoted friends, and all the wonderful individuals who knew and loved her.
A Celebration of Life for Nancy Kelley Van Schaik will be held:
Tuesday, Nov 14th at 10am
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
7611 Park Ln, Dallas, TX 75225
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