Nancy Lynne Monson, beloved wife, mother, sister and friend, died peacefully in her sleep last Tuesday, March 16, 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama. She grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois;the daughter of Mildred and Martin Norpell.

She is survived by her five children; Cathleen Stenquist and her husband Scott, Michael Monson and his wife Marina, Sandra Monson, Diane Mingace, Steven Monson and his wife Tanya,her two brothers; Martin Norpell and Thomas Norpell and his wife Marianne, 12 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and was looking forward to welcoming a new little great-grandson in July.

She loved each of her “posse” deeply and uniquely. It is truly a gift to feel so loved.Nancy met her beloved husband Craig Arthur Monson, at her father’s dental office. It was love at first sight. They enjoyed nearly 58 wonderful years together until his passing in 2016.  Nancy and Craig loved to experience different places, and moved many times across the country buying or building 16 homes in Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama, making many dear friends along the way.

Nancy had a spontaneous, funny sense of humor and even till the end, a smile that melted your heart. A talented and creative soul who expressed her art through stunning interior design of her homes and an endless stream of homemade pies and lusciousrecipes. Food was her love language. She had a heart as big as the ocean, expressed in her love of her foster children, friends and being “The Cookie Lady”, bringing homemade treats to numerous assisted living homes. She had a true vocation to carefor the elderly.

Her Catholic faith was at the center of her life, and Nancy was honored to have been professed as a lay Carmelite Nun. She started her own “Divine Mercy Shoppe” in her South Carolina parish selling holy medals, rosaries etc. to raise thousands of dollars for charity. She had a deep devotion to Divine Mercy, Padre Pio and saying the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day. She also volunteered for Birthright in Framingham, helping many women in crisis pregnancies. Nancy truly has been God’s heart and hands to all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.

A Mass for family and friends will be held at St. Mary’sCatholic Church, Holliston, Mass. on Tuesday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m., followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery. To view Mass virtually via live stream, visit https://www.facebook.com/MusicAtStMarysHolliston/

In lieu of flowers, Nancy’s family requests memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities, which provides services to millions of people each year, through activities such as housing for the homeless, support for the poor, health care, crisis pregnancy assistance and disaster relief. (https://www.ccab.org/donate)