Nancy W. Hennessy

Nancy Wenzel Hennessy, 82, of Atlanta, died peacefully at her home Tuesday, November 10, 2010. Nancy was born April 14th, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan to Charles Leo Wenzel and Eleanor McSorley Wenzel. Raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Nancy was Valedictorian of her high school graduating class. She earned a BS in Home Economics from Michigan State University, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She later earned a Masters in Home Economics from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

While working for the Con Edison Company in Detroit she met and married Robert D. Hennessy in July of 1953. At the time Robert D. Hennessy was working for a division of General Motors, Motors Holding. Nancy lived in Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit again, before permanently moving to Atlanta in August of 1964 when Robert opened Hennessy Cadillac.

A mother of five children, Nancy is survived by: Mark W. and Paula B. Hennessy, Stephen R. and Regina R. Hennessy, Peter R. and Nancy G. Hennessy, Susan H. and Joseph E. Rich, all of Atlanta, and Martha H. and Benne Hutson of Charlotte, NC. Nancy was grandmother to 13 grandchildren: Robert and Molly Hennessy, William and Anne Roane Hennessy, Mathew, Andrew and Katherine Hennessy, Hunter and Carson Rich and Michael, Cathleen, Patrick and Colleen Hutson. Nancy is also survived by her sister, Patricia Gorman of Birmingham, Michigan and was preceded in death by her brother, Carl Wenzel.

Nancy was very active in the local Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association for years. She was a past President of the Piedmont Hospital Auxiliary and past Chairman of the Piedmont Ball. An involved member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, she was a dame in the Order of Malta.

The family will receive friends at H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill on Thursday, the eleventh of November from six o’clock until seven thirty in the evening. The funeral mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday, the twelfth of November at ten thirty in the morning. Following the interment the family will host friends at the home of Mark and Paula Hennessy at 4272 Garmon Road, Atlanta, GA 30327. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to Hospice Atlanta, 5775 Glenridge Drive, Atlanta, GA 30328. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.