Nancy Shaffer

With her family by her side, Nancy Margaret Shaffer passed away peacefully on Monday, December 23rd, 2024. She was born on October 23,1937 in Wellington, Kansas.

When Nancy was 4, her family moved to Albuquerque, NM. This is where Nancy spent the rest of her life, attending Monte Vista Elementary and Jefferson Junior High. She graduated from Highland High School in 1955. She enrolled in UNM's College of Nursing, and, along with eight other students, became the first incoming class of the newly formed College. Nancy graduated in 1959 with a B.S. and R.N. She accepted a position as a nurse at a hospital associated with UCSF and briefly moved to San Francisco.

Upon her return to Albuquerque in 1960, while working as an APS Nurse, she met and started dating the love of her life, George Shaffer. It was genuinely love at first sight and they soon married and started a family. Nancy was active in many organizations, and she became the first female member of the Bernalillo County Medical Center Board (now known as UNMH) in 1968.

In 1974 the Shaffers moved to Placitas where she became a member of the Jardineros de Placitas, Placitas Presbyterian Church, and, in 1975, formed the first PTA organization at Placitas Elementary School. Nancy was active in Republican politics for many years and was a member of the National Federation of Republican Women.

Nancy and George had a beautiful life together. Throughout their 58 years of marriage, they were able to travel extensively with family and friends, having fun wherever they went. After George's passing in 2018, she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and many of her lunch groups. Nancy was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She will always be remembered as a sweet, generous, and kind soul who touched so many lives. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

Nancy is survived by her 3 sons: Steve (Mary Gourd), Richard, and David (Yvette), as well as her 5 grandchildren: Max, Sarah, Ruby, Liam, and Jude.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday January 17th at 10:30 am, at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte NE, Albuquerque, 87122.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Nancy's memory to either the Breakthrough T1D association (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund/JDRF): www.breakthrought1d.org/ways-to-give/ or to Sandia Presbyterian Church: www.sandiapres.org.