Obituary of Nancy Frances Cockfield

Nancy Frances (Porritt) Cockfield (1931-2016) Nancy passed away peacefully on June 13 at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. She had recently celebrated her 85th birthday. Predeceased by her husband, George Alan McKay “Buzz” Cockfield, in 2000, Nancy was the beloved mother of Sandra, Wendy (Charles), Ian (Miki) and Brenda, and grandmother of Sarah and Bridget Tancredi, and Asuka Endo Cockfield. She is survived by sister Diana (Don) and brother Bill (Wendy). Born in Toronto on May 23, 1931, to parents Richard Valentine Porritt and Doris Strickland, Nancy grew up in northern Ontario and Quebec, where her father worked for Noranda. As a school girl, Nancy was sent to Havergal College in Toronto, where she was known as “Pritt,” to receive a proper education. She then attended McGill University—boarding at Royal Victoria College and a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity—where she met Buzz. Nancy received her Bachelor of Science in 1952, and married in 1954. Buzz, an executive with DuPont, and Nancy lived in various locations in Ontario and Quebec, including North Bay (where Sandra was born), Montreal (where Wendy and Ian were born), Kingston (where Brenda was born) and Brockville. Eventually they settled in Oakville, Ontario, in 1978, where Nancy lived until moving to North Bay in 2014. In her early fifties, Nancy returned to school and graduated as a Library Technician from Sheridan College in 1983 and worked at the Mississauga Public Library. She enjoyed travelling, reading, photography, gardening, canoeing, camping and playing tennis; always generous, Nancy spent many years volunteering at the May Court Clubs of Canada and the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Nancy will be remembered as a kind, open-hearted and warm woman—always ready with a chuckle and smile—who walked quietly upon this earth. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Nancy will be gratefully acknowledged by her family. Online condolences may be directed to obitsforlife.com