Nancy Marie Dionne

She was born in Hancock on Nov. 8, 1937, to the late James and Sigrid (Kling) Gaspardo. Nancy graduated from Hancock High School in 1955. She went on to attend Suomi College where she sang in the choir.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Nancy married Kenneth Waisanen on Aug.11, 1962, and had two children, Sabrina and Steven. After being widowed for several years, she married James Dionne on June 26, 1970, and had two more children, Karen and Jennifer.

Nancy started her teaching career at Hancock Public Schools as a fifth grade teacher. After maternity leave, she taught fifth grade at the Public Schools of Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw and special education at Baraga Public Schools. She then taught preschool in the Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Head Start Program. In 1984, Nancy taught fifth grade in Weslaco, Texas, after moving there for a year with her family.

Upon returning to the U.P., she substituted, tutored students, and completed assessments as well as taught in the summer program for the Copper Country Intermediate School District. Nancy spent the rest of her career working for Hancock Public Schools. She was the Title I Director and Teacher at Gordon G. Barkell Elementary School until her retirement in 2000. In 1998, Nancy traveled to Lansing to proudly accept the Distinguished Title I School Award from the Michigan State Board of Education. She then traveled to California to represent Michigan in the national awards.

Teaching was her passion, and she went above and beyond to create interesting lessons and experiences for her students. Nancy’s compassion for her students was evident in many ways. She would not hesitate to give up her lunchtime to help a student or provide clothing, lunch money, or supplies to a student in need. The same was true outside of school. She would often quietly help others in need or perform little acts of kindness to make someone feel special. No stray animal that ever wandered into her yard went hungry either.

Throughout many hard times in her life from losing her first husband as the result of an accident while her children were both under two years old to battling breast cancer and then ultimately losing much of her eye-sight to macular degeneration, she persevered and remained fiercely independent.

Even though Nancy tended to be direct and businesslike, she was also very witty. Her sarcasm often resulted in many laughs followed by even more jokes and funny stories. Integrity was the hallmark of a lot of Nancy’s decisions. She would passionately champion what she thought was right for all individuals. She instilled these values of integrity, drive, and perseverance in all of her children.

Growing up, Nancy liked spending time on the family farm. The Gaspardo family was one of the biggest potato farmers in the U.P. at one time and sold potatoes to Campbell’s Soup Company. Throughout her life, Nancy enjoyed many activities such as playing pinnacle, flower gardening, trolling for lake trout on Lake Superior, berry picking, watching movies, going to concerts and plays, and taking care of her variety of houseplants. Nancy also enjoyed going to the casino and was quite lucky.

Nancy was a talented artist. She liked to paint (acrylic, oil, and watercolor), design stained glass, and create other various crafts. She also liked to play Candy Crush on her computer. Nancy liked baking. Any lemon pie that Nancy tasted she claimed was never as good as hers.

She had the opportunity to travel with her husband, James, and children throughout most of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They also traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Canada. She loved to spend time with her family and friends, often telling funny stories. She adored cats and had several throughout the years.

Nancy was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth Waisanen; second husband, James Dionne; her parents; brother, James Gaspardo; and childhood friend, Alice Kemppa.

She is survived by her sister, Susan Gaspardo of Hancock; four children: Sabrina (Mark) Starkweather of Laingsburg, Michigan; Steven (Kim) Waisanen of Big Bend, Wisconsin; Karen (Troy) Eddy of Houghton; Jennifer (Joel Keranen) Dionne of Kronenwetter, Wisconsin. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Danielle Hilborn, Kenneth (Jalyn) Walker, Rosemary Walker, Austin Adams, Alexander Waisanen, Andrew Waisanan, Madison Eddy, Morgan (Austin) Nieman, Brittany (Evan) Maves; and six great-grandchildren: Ella Phelps, Jake Phelps, Jaxson Wilkins, Dawson Maves, Willow Maves, Coleson Schreiner, and childhood friend since she was two years old, Marlene St. Clair.

Nancy’s family wishes to thank Karen Haisher for her friendship and assistance with bringing Nancy to medical appointments. They would also like to thank the entire staff of the Bluffs Senior Living Community (along with 906 Home Services) for their kindness and support over the last two and a half years. Thank you as well to all of the staff at UP Health System – Portage for their compassionate care of Nancy and everything they did to help her family in the final days of Nancy’s life. Finally, they wish to thank Nancy’s longtime doctor, Dr. Marilyn Dewald, and her staff for their kind-hearted, professional care.

At Nancy’s request, there will be no funeral or visitation. Instead, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Copper Country Humane Society, PO Box 453, Houghton, MI 49931, Keweenaw Spay Neuter Assistance Group (KSNAG), 28928 Mud Lake Rd., Lake Linden, MI 49945, or Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, 527 Hancock St., Hancock, MI 49930.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. To view this obituary or to send condolences online to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.