Nancy Jane Ellsworth Cummins

A few weeks short of her 93rd birthday, Nancy Jane Ellsworth Cummins passed away after a brief illness, with family at her side, on September 28, 2023.

Born on November 19, 1930, to Gerald and Ila Hawley Ellsworth, Nancy grew up in Lorain and enjoyed summer trips with her brother, sister, and parents to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and many other visits to Michigan relatives throughout her childhood. Proud of her Norwegian heritage, she always made a point of wearing a Viking pin on Columbus Day.

While working at General Motors after business school, Nancy met her future husband, John Cummins. Together they eventually moved to Kipton and raised four much-loved children: Dan, Gary, Ellen, and Paul.

Nancy was never one to sit still. She was always busy with her family and her community, keeping a beautiful home and tending countless indoor and outdoor plants. Artistic and musical, Nancy loved singing with the choir at First Church in Oberlin, baking extravagantly decorated cakes for family and friends, and decorating her tent for the annual Cummins Labor Day get-together. Every winter she looked forward to church retreats and many years of cross-country skiing with friends along local trails. Her beautiful photographs from trips to Europe with her sister-in-law, reflect the many wonderful memories they made there. Stylish, elegant, and adventurous, Nancy was always eager to learn a new game, try a new restaurant, or visit a new museum. As recently as last fall, she traveled to Pittsburgh for a reading by favorite author, Louise Penny, and was very active online, too.

Nancy was never without a book (or two) in progress, often mysteries by her favorite authors. Her love of trivia and words extended to her dedication to watching “Jeopardy” and her frequent Scrabble wins (with many 7-letter BINGOS and an encyclopedic knowledge of virtually every word with a Q, J, or Z).

Nancy is survived by her sons Dan, Gary, and Paul, sister Susan, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, brother Jerry, and daughter Ellen.

We will all miss her, but we know she’s up there answering every “Jeopardy” question.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Cowling Funeral Home in Oberlin. According to Nancy’s wishes, there will be no viewing or service, but a memorial service will be announced at a later date. Nancy loved both First Church and the Oberlin Library, we suggest donations in her memory to either organization or one close to your heart.

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