Nancy Carolyn Broderick Klein
4/30/32 – 7/28/23

Nancy Klein passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 28th. She got to see both of her sons and so  many of her friends in her last days and went out with a style that was truly her own.

Nancy was born in Niagara Falls, NY on April 30th, 1932 to George and Margaret (Priehs) Broderick. Aside  from one year in Louisiana (George was a drill sergeant during WW II), her childhood was spent in Niagara  Falls, graduating from La Salle High School in 1950 where she was salutatorian, class vice president and  a cheerleader. She enrolled at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she was a member of Kappa  Kappa Gamma and earned a B.S. in Education in 1954. While a freshman at Miami, she met sophomore  Ken Klein on a blind date. They married on August 29, 1953, just before she was starting her senior  year. Post college moves included Sedalia, Missouri, Cleveland and Middletown, Ohio. The next move  became her favorite, Barrington, Rhode Island where she put down roots and raised her family. She was  involved in too many things to name them all, but den mother, swimmer, hockey mom and eventually  golfer (Rhode Island Country Club) were at the top of her list. She also taught as a substitute teacher  into the early 1970's, fortunately never having to end up in one of her son's classrooms. Nancy survived  a serious automobile accident in 1968, where she was hospitalized with a broken back for many months  and was laid up at home for many more. But this was also when we all got to see what kind of a fighter  she was. She endured months of rehab, a part of which was a return to swimming. Over time that  became a true passion that continued into her 80's. Ultimately in October 1987, she hit the 2,000-mile mark, one of the few who had ever done that at Barrington Y. Her grit and determination would never  be questioned again.

After almost 30 years in Barrington, Nancy and Ken moved down to Martin Downs in Palm City, Florida in 1989. She loved this developing community, and not just because she got to avoid the cold weather  of New England! She became an avid golfer and found a wonderful circle of new friends. She and Ken  also began to travel extensively. Some of her favorite trips included Ireland, Italy, a Santiago to Rio cruise  around Cape Horn, the Canadian Rockies, Greece, Scandinavia, the Rhine, Alaska, the Panama Canal and  numerous cruises throughout the Caribbean. She also faced a bunch of health challenges during her  later years including breast cancer, but always battled through, kept a positive attitude and eventually  carried on as if nothing could stop her. Nancy was proud to have lived independently right up until the  end. Her family was most important to her, and she never missed anyone's birthday or anniversary for  close to 70 years.

She is survived by her two sons, Carlton and Craig, their wives Karen and Lesley, grandchildren Allison,  Jennifer, Alexis, Christopher and Alana, and four great-grandchildren, Brooke, Lucy, Blair and Delilah.  She was predeceased by her husband Ken, and her sister Patricia. She is also survived by her sister-in law Barbara Klein Lindenberg, whose family has always been there for her in times of need, as well as  her nieces Peggy Smith and Christine Hagan.

A memorial service will be held at the Palm City Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on October 14th.

Donations

In  lieu of flowers, a donation to the Breast Cancer Research Association would be appreciated.