Nancy Chamberlain Hackenberger


FALMOUTH - On Friday, May 13, 1921, Nancy Chamberlain Barton was welcomed in- to the world by her parents, Frederick MacDonald Barton and Marjorie Barstow Smith in Concord, Mass. This was the luckiest of days for all involved and cause for great celebration whenever her birthday fell on Friday the 13th.
     Nancy was a loving and devoted wife, mother and nana. Her greatest joy was time spent with her children and grandchildren and these special times ranged from sharing quiet moments to attending rock concerts.
     As a child she grew up on a working ranch in El Cajon, Calif., where she held a paper route, delivering newspapers by horseback. Summers were spent in Maine on the Islands of Casco Bay where she developed a deep love of both Cliff and Chebeague Island. Her father owned and lived on Bates Island for many years before her birth and she recalled fond memories of those returning visits.
     During World War II as many women entered the workforce, Nancy operated an overhead crane for the Convair Aircraft Company in San Diego, Calif.
     She was married to Samuel Hackenberger on Aug. 9, 1953 and together they raised five children.
     Nancy was involved in community volunteering wherever she lived, from California to Maine. Her parents were both teachers and instilled in her an insatiable quest for knowledge from history, languages and geography, to oil painting, music and researching her family genealogy.
     Her love of Casco Bay brought her back to Chebeague Island permanently in 1975 where she and her family lived for many years. On Chebeague, she became an active member of the church and church choir, the library and Golf Club.
     She had a quiet and reassuring nature but she also displayed a creative and quick sense of humor. She never tired in her quest to create the perfect margarita.
     She was also a longtime member of the USM Heartline exercise group which she attended faithfully three times a week until she became ill.
     In 2003 she and her husband Sam celebrated their 50th anniversary and renewed their weddings vows at a surprise party given by their children. This was a highlight in her life and the number of friends and family who turned out to help celebrate touched her deeply.
     She was loved by many and will be missed by all.
     She is survived by her husband, Sam; children, Jim Hackenberger and wife Rosemary of California, Jean Cummings and husband Bob of Washington, Michael Hackenberger of Maine, Nancy Vachon and husband Jim of Portland, and Ruthie Noble and husband Kirk of Westbrook; grandchildren Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Hackenberger, Pam McConnell, Melanie Curnow, Sandra Bradford, Donna Meyer, Jeffrey Putnam, Jeremy Putnam and Ruthie Putnam; as well as 13 great- grandchildren.
     The family would especially like to thank the caring supportive staff at Mercy Hospital for making this difficult time endurable.
     Please join the family for a non-traditional, festive celebration of Nancy's life on Friday, Jan. 6, at the USM Abromson Education Center, Room 213, 88 Bedford St., Portland, from 5-8:30 p.m.
    
     If desired in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in her memory to:
    The Chebeague Island
    Historical Society
    P.O. Box 28
    Chebeague Island, Maine 04017
     Nancy
    Chamberlain
    Hackenberger