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Nancy Marie (Nelson) Russell, 47, of Clements, MD, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Born on March 29, 1977, in Leonardtown, MD, she was the daughter of Michael Sylvester and Margaret Elizabeth (Hill) Nelson.

Nancy was the loving wife of Andrew Russell, whom she married on November 8, 2003, at Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Chaptico, MD. She was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident and graduated from Chopticon High School in 1995. After high school, Nancy began working for defense contractors as a Technical Typist and Administrative Assistant until 2006 when she decided to spend more time with her husband and begin building their family.

Over the last two years Nancy courageously battled uterine leiomyosarcoma. She fought everyday against the cancer and never complained. She welcomed each day she was blessed with and lived her life to the fullest. She was grateful for all the family and friends that called or stopped in to check on her. Even during her treatments she braved each day with a smile on her face and grace in her heart.

As a child, Nancy grew up on her family’s farm with her many siblings and cousins. She loved cooking with her mom and crabbing and fishing with her dad on weekends. She enjoyed sharing stories and memories from her childhood with everyone around her. Stories of her cousin, Banjo, picking her up and taking her for a sweet treat at Jimmy Hurry’s store, family picnics and events, and of course, eating hard crabs under the big shade tree.

Nancy cherished the farm life she shared with Andrew and her family. She found delight in all aspects of farm life; from raising her animals and riding in the tractor with Andrew, to restful evenings and big family dinners. Her love of this life was only enhanced with joy once she began sharing all these moments with her children Maggie, Andrew, and Madelyn. She loved teaching her children about the animals, fishing and picnicking at their family pond, and taking family trips. She introduced them to many family traditions she had carried on from her childhood and loved creating new traditions with them. Nancy was always taking pictures. Scrapbooking was one of her favorite hobbies. She enjoyed capturing the moments that made the memories. Nancy was a master at preserving her family’s amazing moments through photos and journaling the details to preserve those memories for all her loved ones to enjoy and remember.

Nancy was passionate about her faith and love of the Lord. She was a loyal servant of God and was grateful for her time as the Parish Secretary for St. Joseph’s Church in Morganza, MD, and as a teacher for the Children’s Faith Formation classes for Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Chaptico, MD. Now that Nancy has passed into the arms of our Lord, her physical life on earth is over but this is just the beginning of her beautiful and eternal journey.

Nancy was predeceased by her father, Michael Sylvester Nelson, her brother, Joseph Parran Nelson , her in-laws Walter Fidelis and Ada Elizabeth Russell, brothers-in-law, Kevin Russell, David Shelley, and Francis Wathen, sisters-in-law, Brenda Russell, and Betty Russell and her children Dylan Bryce Russell (November 25, 2005), Austin Matthew Russell (August 18, 2006), Aiden Andrew Russell (August 16, 2009), and Leah Kathleen Russell (September 2, 2017). She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Andrew, and her children Maggie, Andrew, and Madelyn. She is also survived by her mother, Margaret Elizabeth Nelson, her siblings Michael (Donna) Nelson, Agnes (Edward) Mayor, Leroy (Kimberly) Hill, Leonard (Samantha) Nelson, and sister-in-law Tina (Joseph) Nelson; in-laws Liz (Jimmy) Strine, Walter Russell, Leroy Russell, Wayne (Tracey) Russell, Catherine Humphries, Alvin Russell, Sr., Gail Shelley, Sheila (David Sr.) Hancock, Brian Russell, Leonard (Cindy) Russell, Glen (Missy) Russell, sister-in-law Meme Russell, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 22, 2024, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., at the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where prayers will begin at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, Chaptico, MD, with Father Chip Luckett and Father Drew Royals officiating. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, MD. Pallbearers are Allen Lacey, Jay Helwig, James Hill, Johnny Nelson, Bernie Caywood, Leonard Russell, Glen Russell, and Leroy Russell; Honorary Pallbearers are Brian Russell, Catherine Humphries, and Samantha Nelson.

The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to all of their family, friends and neighbors that have supported Nancy and her family throughout her illness and especially in her final weeks. We are blessed and forever grateful for all the kindness, love, and support that we have received.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following organizations:
Seventh District Fire Department, P.O. Box 206, Avenue, MD 20609
Seventh District Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609
Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650

Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.