Nancy Margaret Blesh

Nancy Margaret Holland Blesh, 65, peacefully left this earth and entered the gates of Heaven on April 28, 2020, after a brave nine-month battle against pancreatic cancer. Nancy was born on June 6, 1954 in Alice, Texas to William Chester “Jake” and Billie Cole Holland. As a toddler, her family moved from Texas to Ocala, Florida. Her parents’ death caused her to return to Krum, Texas as a youth and be reared by her beloved grandparents. She graduated from Denton High School and attended North Texas State University, then settled in Austin. The best years of her life were the 35 years living in Austin, and her final 4 years in Dallas, near her daughter and family.

Nancy’s most loved careers over her life were those working for the state of Texas and the American Cancer Society. She became active as a volunteer for the Seton Medical Auxiliary in Austin achieving over 4,000 volunteer hours. It was a great joy for her to work in the Great Habits gift shop at Seton Central Hospital.

Nancy loved people. She absolutely never met a stranger. She had a way of sharing and connecting with anyone in whom she came into contact. Nancy loved watching her soap operas, feeding squirrels on her patio and naming each one, bargain shopping, eating Tex-Mex and County Line BBQ , drinking white wine, and visiting all her friends at the HEB on Far West. She was always in pearls and jewelry galore, cherished having painted nails, teasing her big Texas hair, wearing scarves and broaches with class, piling on blue mascara with gobs of perfume. She drank coffee and milk all day long, was a cat lady for life and great at cooking and baking, gardening and sewing. She always potted geraniums in summer and kept cut arrangements of pink roses all year long. She loved bluebonnets in the spring, football in the fall, especially watching her Longhorns, Gators, and Cowboys, and she made every moment of the Christmas season special. She was naturally creative and artistic, had beautiful handwriting- recording every little thing she could on a 3x5 notecard. She had a quick wit, a great sense of humor, and a tender heart for others. Most of all, she loved and adored her grandchildren and granddogs more than anything in the world.

Her favorite scripture was, “This the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24. She spent the final days and months of her life truly leaning into her faith in Jesus. She left this earth unafraid, fully loved, peaceful, and finally with no more pain.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Jake and Billie Holland.

Nancy is survived by her devoted, only daughter and favorite son-in-law, Jennifer and Robert Black; grandson, Tripp, and granddaughter, Kate; sister, Len Holland; and many extended family and friends.

A celebration of life held in Dallas, Texas, will be announced at a later date. Please check back to this website for details.

Donations in her memory can be made to the following:

Seton Fund, which supports Seton Central Austin adult facilities- a place that served her well and she served in return:

https://supportseton.org/foundations/the-seton-fund/give/

Faith Presbyterian Hospice of Dallas- an incredible resource that made her final days comfortable, peaceful and meaningful:

https://www.faithpreshospice.org/donate/