Nancy M. (Smith) Bradley, of Norwood, was born in Boston February 3, 1950, the daughter of Edward Smith of Dedham and the late Mary M. (McGarty) and lived in Dorchester and Dedham, Mass. while growing up. After graduating from Emmanuel College, she returned to her alma mater, Dedham High School, where she taught Spanish, French, and Latin for 40 years before illness forced her retirement. After her retirement Nancy remained continually invested in the success of the students and teachers whose lives she had touched.
Nancy was a great lover of travel, both domestically and internationally. In her younger years with her husband Peter, Nancy spent many summers exploring the country and once hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out in the same day. She spent many weeks in her adulthood shepherding her high school students to France and Spain, and her fondest memories were of trips with Peter to Ireland and her beloved Italy.
Nancy loved drinking tea and crocheting and particularly enjoyed a glass of Prosecco to celebrate special events. For many decades anyone who knew her even remotely could expect a handmade afghan to celebrate their marriage, graduation, or the birth of a child. She enjoyed playing Scrabble, especially when she defeated her husband, as she most often did. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and looked forward to her weekly completion of the Sunday puzzle with her father even into her final weeks.
Nancy was the devoted wife of 44 years of Peter Bradley of Norwood. She was the loving mother to Alexander S. Bradley and his wife Marianna Ruzinova of Clayton, Mo; Andrew S. Bradley and his wife Samantha Bradley of Norwood; and Benjamin S. Bradley and his wife Dana LeWinter of Somerville. She was the beloved grandmother, or “Nanny”, to Gwendolyn, Harold, Serafina, Levi, and Eila.
She is also survived by her siblings, Edward Smith of Salem, Virginia, Jeanne Flint of Hull, Joan Colleran of Walpole, Jonathan smith of Reading, Elizabeth Cramer of Stoughton and Jennifer Wilcox of Dedham.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, October 25 in the Ginley Funeral Home (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 892 Main Street, Walpole from 5 -8:00p.m.
Services and interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Nancy M. Bradley Education Fund c/o Dean Bank, PO Box 307, Franklin, MA 02038.