NANCY MCCLOUD

Nancy Lee McCloud, 73, of Batavia died peacefully at home in the late afternoon of Thursday, November 25. Nancy was born in Geneva, Illinois, on November 9, 1948, to Rosalind and Harold James Hazelton. Nancy eventually shared the Hazelton household with her parents and two sisters, Sally and Connie. They experienced the love of their parents as they grew up in the small-town lifestyle of the 1950s.

After graduating from Batavia High School in 1966, Nancy earned her teaching degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and provided to the community of Batavia a 35-year career as a teacher. During her career she nurtured uncountable numbers of children at Batavia Junior High School, Louise White School, and Grace McWayne School. Many of her students and their families reached out to Nancy long after any child left her classroom.

Before Nancy and her sisters were born, her parents began a life-time friendship with fellow Batavia teachers George and Ruth McCloud. The McClouds and the Hazeltons brought  their young families together during the 1950s. It was during these gatherings that Nancy met her future husband, Alan. In the mid-1950s, the McClouds moved from Batavia to a western Chicago suburb and the three McCloud boys had little contact with the Nancy and her sisters.

In 1978, Alan returned to Batavia as a 6^th grade teacher at Louise White School. One afternoon Alan was called from the classroom for a district committee meeting. The substitute teacher assigned to Alan’s classroom was Nancy. That was the first time in more than twenty years the two had seen each other. Nine years later Nancy and Alan married. Slightly more than two years passed when Nancy’s daughters, Tessa and Tara, and Alan’s son, Michael, welcomed a baby sister, Linnea into the family. Their blended family was now complete.

Nancy was a special person. She always put others before her. She demonstrated her unspoken mission – helping others. There was no judgement from Nancy. She liked people for what they were. She was often greeted in the local grocery by parents of former students. The words of thanks were plentiful as parents reminded Nancy of the care she gave while she provided for their children the foundation for a successful life. From Nancy’s perspective, that was how one was expected to live. Embrace children for what they are; accept them regardless of where they start; and respectfully provide them with the tools to move forward.

Nancy enjoyed her six grandchildren. Her many craft projects resulted in favored time spent with Grandma. They baked and decorated cookies, built gingerbread houses, created valentines, and enjoyed other projects throughout the year. Coming to Grandma’s was a special day.

On November 25, Nancy lost her 22-year battle with breast cancer. Although she knew she was nearing the end of her life, she kept the seriousness of her illness to herself. Always putting the feelings of others first, she did not want to put stress on her friends. From Wednesday night through Thursday morning all of her children and both sisters spent time with Nancy to say goodbye. After a short 5-day journey with hospice, Nancy peacefully passed in the arms of her husband at 5:28 on Thanksgiving afternoon.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Alan; sisters Sally Hazelton and Connie Goldman; brothers-in-law Page (Carol) McCloud and Jim (Jane) McCloud; children Tessa (Mike) Wagner, Tara (Matt) Carlson, Michael McCloud, and Linnea (Andrew) Schmidt; grandchildren Violet and Max Carlson, Dylan and Cameron McCloud, James Wagner, and Evelyn Schmidt; her mother’s sister, Donna Lee Peterson of Aurora; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She leaves behind a countless number of friends created over a lifetime of caring.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Harold James and Rosalind Hazelton.

An all-inclusive celebration of life is planned for a later date.

Nancy was generous in her financial gifts. Consider continuing Nancy’s demonstrated mission of helping others through the gifts you can afford to offer to your favorite charities. She spread her support among national and local organizations. Three of her favorites are: Fox Valley Children’s Chorus P.O. Box 502 Batavia, IL 60510 https://www.foxvalleychildrenschorus.org/           Batavia Historical Society 155 Houston St. Batavia, IL 60510 http://www.bataviahistoricalsociety.org/           American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/

Arrangements were handled with care by Conley Funeral Home, Elburn