Nancy Anne O'Leary
June 10, 1945 ~ March 16, 1999
Asheville Butterfly TrailMrs. O'Leary was a native of Rutland, VT, and was the daughter of the late Porter and Janet Flanders.
She was a devoted Project Director for the Southern Regional Children's Advocacy Center and a former board member of the National Network of Children's Advocacy Centers. She was a member of the American Professional Society for Abused Children, the National Council for Children, and the National Association of Social Workers.
She attended the New Life Community Church.
She was the loving wife of Bruce A. O'Leary and a wonderful mother to Patti O'Leary of the home. She is also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Brad and Helen Flanders of Charlotte and niece and nephews, David Flanders of Asheville and Jim and Suzanne Stone of New Jersey; a brother-in-law, Richard O'Leary and his wife Linda of South Bend, Indiana, and nieces and nephews Erin, Megan, Daniel, and Kevin O'Leary of South Bend; mother- and father-in-law, Arthur and Fran O'Leary of South Bend; aunt and uncle, John and Annette Bigelow of Burnsville.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm Sunday, March 21, at Bent Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Harris officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Her family will receive friends from 7 - 8:30 pm Saturday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian.
Memorials may be made to the National Children's Advocacy Center New Training Academy Fund, 200 Westside Square, Suite 700, Huntsville, Alabama 35801.
A memorial service will be held in Huntsville, Alabama, at a later date.
I always looked forward to our little talks at the meetings and conferences. She was close friend, wonderful confidant, and an inspiring counsel in the development of our CAC project. I will miss her nightly e-mails and the cute sign off, ‘Toodles.’ The children of this world are better because of Nancy.
Nancy was a dear friend and colleague. I had the priviledge of working with her as a trainer/consultant with the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center for about two years. We often traveled to other states together to train and do presentations at conferences. Her knowledge and expertise were my training academy. Once you met Nancy, you felt like you had known her your whole life. She was a comfortable to be around as my favority slippers are to wear each evening. In fact, she was much like a sister to me.
Nancy always had funny stories to tell of her own travels across the country working with CACs. I think one of the funniest was the one about the law enforcement officer in an extremely small town that didn’t have a CAC. He was talking about how he didn’t think they needed a CAC there as he was always able to tell if a child victim was telling the truth. They used the lie detector machine and it was always right!!! Remembering these stories and the good times we shared will stay with me the rest of my life. While I regret not being able to see her and talk to her now, I will have those wonderful memories to keep until we meet again.
Nancy was a dear friend and colleague. I had the priviledge of working with her as a trainer/consultant with the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center for about two years. We often traveled to other states together to train and do presentations at conferences. Her knowledge and expertise were my ‘training academy.’ Once you met Nancy, you felt like you had known her your whole life. She was as comfortable to be around as my favorite slippers are to wear each evening. In fact, she was much like a sister to me.
Nancy always had funny stories to tell of her own travels across the country working with CACs. I think one of the funniest was the one about the law enforcement officer in an extremely small town that didn’t have a CAC. He was talking about how he didn’t think they needed a CAC there as he was always able to tell if a child victim was telling the truth. They used the lie detector machine and it was always right!!! Remembering these stories and the good times we shared will stay with me the rest of my life. While I regret not being able to see her and talk to her now, I will have those wonderful memories to keep until we meet again.
She was my favorite and beloved aunt and I will miss her deeply.
Although I had the honor of knowing her for only a short time, I am a far richer man for having known her. Her beautiful spirit will be missed by all.
Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow. All our Love Mike & Penny
I don’t know of any other way to express my sense of loss other than I will truly miss her. She was such a treat to spend time with, and her committment to making the world a better place won’t be soon forgotten. I consider myself extrmely fortunate to have known her. My prayers and best wishes to Bruce and Patti, and know that the two of you mean the world to me.
Nancy will be sorely missed by our family. Ours is a family that had its beginning because of Nancy. She continued to offer her love and support and her wisdom whenever we needed her after the adoption of our daughter was complete. She had the ability to embrace you with the spirit of God so that you were filled with His peace after being with her. She was truly of servant of God. I will miss our friendship and our hour long catch up calls (so will AT&T). We feel very blessed to have known her. Our prayers and thoughts go with Bruce and Patti.
You will be missed by many.
I was so happy to meet Bruce and Patty at the Memorial Service, even though it was under sad circumstances. I am thinking of you and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you had a pleasant trip back to Asheville. fondly, Camille Solley