Obituary of Nancy Lynn Peloquin

Nancy L. Peloquin

Vancouver, Washington

November 25, 1941 ~ August 18, 2018

Nancy Peloquin passed away unexpectedly Saturday August 18^th with her husband E. Paul Peloquin at her bedside. Nancy was known as many things: a daughter to Lyalus and Melvin Cary, Wife and best friend to E. Paul Peloquin, Mother to Michael and Vicki, and Nana to her four grandsons.

Alongside her family, Nancy’s personality allowed her to develop numerous friends through her love for knitting, beading, and quilting. Her life was filled with a patchwork of interests sewn together— much like the quilts she leaves behind. She was born in Seattle Washington but grew up in Yakima Washington where she participated in Glee Club, Jazz Dance, Tap Dance, and Drill Team. Nancy held together friends in both the Glee Club and Drill Team while maintaining her job as a Soda Jerk and Clerk at her father’s pharmacy. Nancy, the rule follower, met her best friend in the seventh grade. E. Paul Peloquin was no rebel, however, his love for the outdoors and exploration paired perfectly with her various interests. Nancy found that she was able to hold all things together while E. Paul helped her explore and see new places. She signed E. Paul’s ninth grade yearbook stating that she hoped that “we will be friends for as long as we live.” Friends until death they were.

After graduation, Nancy attended Yakima Community College for a year and then the University of Puget Sound (UPS) where she studied Sociology and maintained contact with E. Paul who was at Oregon State University. During her days at UPS she had the opportunity to follow her passion and spend the summer as an intern with the San Antonio Police Department. Soon after her graduation from UPS she continued her life with E. Paul as he became her needle while she was the thread. They moved to Corvallis Oregon, Dimondale Michigan, Vicksburg Mississippi, Walla Walla Washington, and then finally Vancouver Washington where they found their permanent family home. Nancy followed the path set forth and sewed the pieces together. No matter the city, Nancy ensured Michael and Vicki had a place to call home. She fixed the water heater while E. Paul was on assignment (things tended to break when he was on assignment) and always was sure the kids had homeroom cookies. Nancy not only sewed her family together, but she also found the drive to volunteer and advocate for female and civil rights. Nancy’s passion to volunteer was developed in the 1970’s due to her experiences at a hospital in Vicksburg Mississippi where she felt individuals were being treated unfairly. Nancy continued to advocate and volunteer until her death in 2018.

Alongside volunteering, she had the rare ability to maintain a career in the telecommunication industry and maintain the household. Her goal was to guarantee that Michael and Vicki had the best experience in whatever city they were in as they continuously moved throughout their childhood. After years of moving, Nancy found her home in Vancouver Washington where the pieces seemed to be sewn together easier. Nancy was able to transform herself into a successful worker in the telecommunications industry at AT&T, NW Bell and US West as a business representative. After her retirement from US West, Nancy continued to be an entrepreneur as she found joy in her second career of being Nana and a businesswoman. She spent her time with family and friends, managing a family farm in North Dakota, and trading stocks/bonds.

Nancy found joy in the day to day life up until her passing on Saturday August 18^th. Her quilts have been used by hundreds of people at hospitals, homes, and shelters and they will live on showing the legacy of Nancy Peloquin. She is survived by E. Paul Peloquin, Michael Peloquin, Vicki Silvey, Michael Silvey, Justin Silvey, Alex Peloquin, Stinson Ott and the quilts that so represent her 76 years of stories. A good friend wrote “she gave her quilts to those she loved,” and to that, her love was endless.