Nancy Anne (Jennings) Pelletier, retired Principal of the Bentley Elementary School in Salem, passed away at her home with her family by her side after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 58 years old and a lifelong resident of Salem. Nancy was the daughter of the late Joan and Attorney John J. Jennings. A 1974 graduate of Salem High School, she attended the University of Vermont and then finished her degree in Elementary Education at Salem State. Nancy went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Leslie University; she was born to be a teacher. Relatives, friends, and colleagues described Nancy as engaging, encouraging, and loving. She was a positive thinker, a great communicator, a passionate and concerned individual. Nancy was a huge advocate for the Salem school system, having spent her entire career working within it. Nancy began her career in education as a teacher in the Title 1 Program in Salem. She went on to spend thirty years at the Collins Middle School where she worked as both teacher and administrator. She retired from her lifelong career in education as the Principal of Bentley Elementary School. As she moved from teacher to administrator, Nancy passionately worked to improve the curriculum for the students of Salem as well as to support and motivate the teachers under her direction. She believed in inclusion, never giving up on anyone, and always being positive. Nancy was all about family. She was the loving wife to her husband Phil for 37 years. They were high school sweethearts and complimented each other in their daily lives. Nancy was a very involved mother. For her children, she was their role model, advisor, teacher and motivator. Any summer vacations spent with her were jokingly referred to as “Camp Chachi”. She organized outings, crafts, sports, and fun-filled activities for her children as well as many of her nieces and nephews. Every moment spent with her was an adventure. Nancy grew up skiing at Whittier Mountain and King Pine and later shared the joy of skiing with her children. She loved the water and cherished summer vacations spent on their boat, “The Bluefish.” Nancy spent the majority of her life in the Osgood Park neighborhood eventually becoming the president of the Osgood Park Neighborhood Association. Nancy embraced life, loved her family, and truly made a difference in the lives of her students and faculty. Nancy was the loving wife of Philip C. Pelletier. She was the loving mother of Emily Pelletier Korriku & her husband Ilir Korriku of Salem, Philip Michael Pelletier & his wife Laurie of Swampscott, and Anna Maye Pelletier of Salem. She was the sister of Kathleen Sweeney & her husband John of Danvers, John J. Jennings, III & his wife Ellen of Danvers, Jeremiah Jennings & his wife Deborah of Salem, and Thomas Lambert & his wife Donna of Salem. Proud grandmother of Leona and Jean Paul Korriku and Reagan & Madison Pelletier.
Friends and relatives are invited to gather from 3:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, April 17, at Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Route 114 / 1-A]. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 18 at the Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Blvd, Salem at 10:00 am followed by internment at Greenlawn Cemetery in Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Nancy’s name may be made to Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer, 79 Main St., Suite 202, Framingham, MA 01702 or www.ovationsforthecure.org. For guestbook and additional information, please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com or www.icsalem.org