WITHERS, Annunciata Mary "Nancy"

March 25, 1928 - December 17, 2020. It is with profound sadness that the family of Annunciata Mary "Nancy" Withers of Dartmouth, announces her passing on December 17th. Our matriarch was born in Marystown, N.L., a daughter of the late Richard V. Pittman and Mary (Caines) Pittman. Nancy was the loving wife of William "Bill" Withers; proudmother of Rickola Withers and Linda Withers (Brad); a doting grandmother of Devin Withers-hum (Homayra), Jillian Withers-hum (Connor); and great-grandmother of her "little prince", Xavier WithersHum. She was predeceased by sisters, Annie Power, Betty Walsh and Eileen Dober; brothers Joseph, Leonard and Richard; and several nieces and nephews. Nancy attended Sacred Heart Convent School and the Mount Academy. In her youth she was a member of the choir of Sacred Heart Church of Marystown. She loved music, dancing, singing and entertaining at social gatherings. Nancy attended the Bishop & Bennett School of Ballroom dancing in Halifax where she became an accomplished dancer. Prior to her marriage, she was employed by T. Eaton Co. in downtown Halifax. As if fate had predestined, her friend of the past, William Withers, being repatriated from Korea stopped over at HMCS Shearwater in August 1952 to await a flight to Newfoundland. At last, they were together and were united in marriage by Father Jeremiah Mackey on August 23, 1954, surrounded by friends and family at Saint Theresa’s Church in Halifax. In later years she served for eight years as a member of the board of directors for the Truro School for Girls and also served on the executive committee of the Dartmouth North Progressive Conservative Association for ten years. Nancy always displayed dedication and enthusiasm in all matters near and dear to her, whether it was her church, fundraising activities or political endeavours. She possessed a unique way of motivating volunteers during elections with charisma and laughter, especially when it involved her husband’s municipal elections and his provincial efforts as campaign manager in Dartmouth North. She made hundreds of phone calls influencing positive fundraising outcomes for several worthwhile organizations, such as the IWK Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Feed Others of Dartmouth. Nancy played a critical role in helping her husband achieve the distinction of the highest level of funds raised by one individual in the Atlantic provinces for Big Brothers Big Sisters over a period of six consecutive years. This was accomplished by her as she acquired several hundred donors each year. With her assistance, her husband was named 1984 Nova Scotia Volunteer of the Year. Her compassion and commitment to her loved ones, her church and her community was evident in all of her accomplishments. Mass will be held in Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 10 Maple St., Dartmouth on Wednesday, December 23rd at 11 a.m. Please visit: www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca for a link to view the services virtually. Private interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. We wish to extend our special thanks to Father Charlie Burke, the Withers’ personal care staff and to those with Maplestone Enhanced Care in Fairview.