Nancy Hodgkins

NANCY ANN JUNE HODGKINS (1933 – 2025), beloved mother to five children, 92, of Bartlett, New Hampshire passed away peacefully surrounded by family on 31 July 2025, to join her Lord and Savior. Nancy was born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1933. She was the youngest of four sisters, and one brother, born to Raymond and Illian Rheinsmith. It was here that she attended Christ Lutheran Church and graduated with honors after excelling in an advanced placement school for the gifted and talented. She loved caring for people and followed that passion by becoming a nurse achieving an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from the number one nursing school in the country - the University of Pennsylvania, and later added a B.A. and M.A. in Nursing, specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of New Hampshire. She spent the last 15 years of a 38-year career as a Registered Nurse directing the OB/GYN Department at Memorial Hospital in North Conway. Nancy is best known at Memorial Hospital for combining the most advanced OB/GYN technologies with her philosophy of compassionate nursing. She was the mentor for countless numbers of the Valley’s young nurses starting careers in women’s health services. She renovated many of the birthing rooms and even added a candle-light dinner for new mothers and their spouses to celebrate the new additions to their family. Her resume includes a legacy of helping birth generations of the Valley’s newborns. When she retired, Memorial Hospital formally recognized her self-less and devoted years of nursing service by naming a special birthing room in her honor. Swept off her feet by and married to a dashing (her words) Air Force pilot in 1955, Nancy joyfully raised her children in a variety states: Norfolk, VA; Dover DE; Oklahoma City, OK; Honolulu, HI; O’Fallon, IL; Anchorage, AK; and Altus, OK, before settling in Bartlett, NH. In the early years, Nancy was a huge supporter of an Education Fund established to raise public awareness of Viet Nam era POWs and MIAs. She was always active in fundraising activities of the Military Wives Club’s focused on providing financial assistance for struggling military families and establishing college scholarships for high school graduates. In her later years, she would often snowbird on the beaches of Hawaii to weather Bartlett’s long winters with her husband, sisters and friends; and occasionally traveled to France, Spain, and China to share her invaluable nursing experiences with health professionals from around the globe. Her beloved husband of 40 years, Frederick True Hodgkins, a Bartlett native, Air Force Colonel and pilot and past Bartlett Selectman, would often say that he could not have asked for a kinder, loving, more gracious, compassionate and caring wife and mother. Up until the end, Nancy maintained a special appreciation of beauty, love of family and friends, and often expressed heartfelt gratitude for her long life, full of wonderful and varied experiences. She loved the community in the Valley. She was active with Bartlett Church, best known as baking fresh bread for countless Communion Sundays, and a key member of the “Church Mice” who for years prepared delicious February suppers for our community. In her later years, Nancy resided at The Merriman House under the compassionate care of many of the nurses she previously trained. She entertained the staff with stories of her travel adventures, golf outings with her friends and sisters, and her renown exploits as the “Dancing Queen”. She would regale family and friends, with fond memories of her sons’ sporting events, her daughter’s ballet recitals, holiday gatherings and summer vacations spent with her cherished grandchildren. She was a favorite among the Merriman staff and fellow residents, and her delightful spirit will be truly missed. The surviving family includes her four sons, Doug Hodgkins of Augusta, ME, Bill Hodgkins of Edmond, OK, Ray and Ramona Hodgkins of Bartlett, NH, Fred Hodgkins Jr. of Fryeburg, ME, a daughter, Pam and Ted McSheehy of Columbia, MO, and Ms. Kelly Drew; along with eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Nancy was a devoted mother to all her children as they were her pride and joy. She would often say that their lives changed her life for the better, and the family felt that in the love and support she always provided. Nancy’s funeral service is being managed by Furber and White Funeral Home. The service will be held Saturday, 16 August at 11 a.m. at the Bartlett Union Congregational Church with Pastor John Heropoulos officiating. A brief graveside ceremony will immediately follow the funeral service and there will be a fellowship reception downstairs at the Bartlett church. Family and friends are asked to join by sharing a memory and/or photo of their time spent with Nancy. Donations in her name can be sent to the Hodgkins Flower Fund, in care of the Bartlett Union Congregational Church, and are greatly appreciated by the family.