Nina Elaine Brash

On Thursday, July 11, 2024, Nina Elaine Harding Brash passed away at the Southington Care Center. Nina is predeceased by her devoted husband, Robert D. Brash. Nina was born on May 22, 1948, in New London, CT. Nina was the daughter of the late Allan E. and Lucille C. Harding. Nina and her family moved seven times before settling at Winding Brook Lane in Meriden, CT. Nina attended Curry College in Milton, MA graduating in 1971. At Curry College, she met her future husband, Robert D. Brash.

Nina & Bob were married September 4, 1971, at Center Congregational Church in Meriden, CT. Nina and Bob moved to Clarendon Hills, IL in 1972 and Waverly Avenue become their home. Nina taught at Holmes Elementary School for 30 years as a 2nd grade teacher. Nina had a special relationship with her students and fellow teachers. Nina exchanged hundreds of cards over the years building upon those treasured relationships. Nina and Bob witnessed the glory years of Chicago sports, as season ticket holders of the Bulls and Bears during the 1980s and 1990s.

Nina and Bob enjoyed their retirement years summering in Stowe, VT while enjoying coffee every morning with the Flippers and meals at area restaurants. They traveled down south to enjoy winters in Oldsmar, FL with trips to the beaches and preseason baseball games. During Nina’s retirement she became a prolific quilt maker and a voracious book reader, sometimes reading up to five books in a week. Nina battled cancer for eight years, including hundreds of trips to the hospital and withstanding the effects of chemotherapy. Bob passed away in 2022 and Nina continued to fight cancer with the help of her friends and family. Recently the cancer had spread, and a decision was made to move to hospice care. In the last few months, Nina continued to write, text and chat with her many friends. On the morning of July 11th, Nina passed away, no longer able to withstand the ravages of cancer.

Nina is survived by brothers: Allan and Rosemarie Harding; William Harding and Jeannine Frink, nephews: Kyle and Melisa Harding; Jonathan and Lindsay Harding, nieces: Rory and Dan Tangari; Kelly and Ray Sardinas, and nine great nieces and nephews.

Donations in Nina’s memory can be made to Stowe Free Library at 90 Pond Street, Stowe, VT 05672 or Friends of the Clarendon Hills Library at 7 North Prospect Street, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514. Interment will be held privately at the convenience of the family at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT. Arrangements have been entrusted to Della Vecchia Funeral Home in Southington, CT. To Leave a message of remembrance please visit: www.DellaVecchiaSouthington.com