Nancy Lee McLelland, 79, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2024 after a valiant battle with breast cancer.

Nancy traveled the world through her love of literature. You could always find her reading a new book from an early age and passed down her thirst for knowledge to her daughters. She adored researching history and archeology. Nancy enjoyed watching Perry Mason, History, B sci-fi and horror films, and Ancient Aliens. Her favorite author was Stephen King.

Nancy loved animals and often rescued strays when she was a child. She had several beloved pets and raised her children in a home where there were never too many animals to love. Nancy was undoubtedly met at Heaven's gate by her very loved cats and dogs, especially Melon, Strawberry, George, Heidi, and Shelby. She was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy and dedicated her life to making the world a better place.

Family traditions included New Year's Twilight Zone marathons and karaoke dance parties, candlelight Christmas Eve ceremonies, extravagant birthday parties, and visiting animal parks and sanctuaries. She was a scout mom, a soccer mom, a theater and choir mom, and operated the neighborhood taxi. Nancy knew the lyrics to all songs by Queen and her daughters fondly remember singing along with their mother in the car.

She was a beloved educator having taught in Perth Amboy for several decades including Perth Amboy Christian Academy, Holy Rosary, and Saint Michael's.

After she graduated from Perth Amboy High School in 1962 Nancy traveled to Louisiana where she became lifelong friends with Kathleen Bishop at LSU. She and Kathy would share countless unforgettable memories of shenanigans that they would retell over the years. Nancy enjoyed bringing her daughters to visit their Aunt Kathy in Washington DC and Maryland to explore museums, national monuments, and sunsets overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

She was married to Washington Irving McLelland for close to 53 years. They enjoyed attending school events for their daughters and grandchildren where you could always see Nancy cheering for her babies. Her daughters and her grandchildren were her world and if she wasn't with them in person, they knew they could always call her on the phone for advice from the smartest woman in the world or a quirky story to get through the day. She was truly a kind and empathetic soul and the world feels a little less whole with her passing.

Nancy was the most selfless person you could have ever met. All she ever did was for her daughters and grandchildren. She never missed a moment of their lives and spoke to all of them each and every day. Every day of her life was dedicated to seeing them smile and making ordinary moments incredibly special. She taught them all the true meaning of family and perseverance. She fought for them until the very end so they could have every last birthday and holiday of the year with them and they will be forever grateful for her strength and love.

Nancy was preceded in death by her mother Marion Helen Fullerton – Stachowski, her father Leon Stachowski, as well as her brother Albert Stachowski.

She leaves behind her husband, Washington Irving of Edison, her daughters, Dr. Rebecca McLelland-Crawley and her husband Steven of Piscataway and Jessica Ayers and her husband Christopher of Fords, her six grandchildren: Samantha, Brett, Bryce, Rielyn, Aidan, Kathryn. She will also be missed by her sister-in-law Linda Stachowski, and her niece Candace (Stachowski) Galvez.

Friends may call at the Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Ford Ave., on Sunday, January 14, 2023 from 2:00pm - 5:00pm where services will take place at 4:30pm.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Nancy's memory to the Popcorn Park Zoo ( www.ahscares.org/popcorn-park)