On August 18, 2026, Nancy Elizabeth Conklin (nee Atkinson) Beloved wife of the late Daniel L. Conklin. Devoted mother of Julie Marie Lanzetta and her husband John, Gregory S. Conklin and his wife Katie, Amy Elizabeth Daughton and her husband Wes and the late Mark Daniel Conklin. Loving grandmother of Johnny Lanzetta, Elizabeth Marie Lanzetta, Sophie Jean Reinert, Gracie Conklin and Blake Daughton. Dear sister of Kathleen Higgins, Mary Carol Agee, John E. Atkinson, Mary Jean Rafferty, and the late Kenneth and Roger Atkinson.

Nancy Elizabeth Conklin will be remembered as a woman of Catholic faith whose life was centered on love: love for people, love for children, love for the simple beauty of the outdoors, and, above all, a deep and abiding love for her family.

Nancy had a warm and generous spirit that naturally drew people to her. She genuinely cared about others and had a special place in her heart for children. She was the kind of person who made people feel welcome, valued, and heard. Whether someone came to her in need of comfort, encouragement, advice, or simply a listening ear, Nancy gave them her full attention. She was a wonderful listener to everyone, offering patience and understanding without judgment. Her kindness was not something she merely spoke about; it was something she lived every day.

Family was the heart of Nancy's world. Nothing brought her greater happiness than being surrounded by the people she loved. She treasured family gatherings, when the house was filled with conversation, laughter, stories, and the comforting bustle of everyone being together. She understood that life's greatest moments were often found in ordinary days shared with family - gathered around a table, sitting together on the porch, enjoying a homemade meal, or remembering years gone by.

Nancy especially adored her grandchildren. They brought enormous joy to her life, and she delighted in watching them grow, hearing about their lives, and spending time with them. Her love for them was unconditional and unmistakable. She offered them the special kind of love that only a grandmother can give warm, reassuring, patient, proud, and always present. The memories they made with her will remain among the most precious gifts she leaves behind.

Nancy expressed much of her love through food. She loved to bake and took great pleasure in preparing meals for others. Her family affectionately called her "Meals on Wheels" because she was always making something and bringing it to someone. Every dish she prepared carried a message: You are loved. You are thought of. You matter to me. Her meals brought nourishment, but they also brought comfort and connection. They gathered people together and made any occasion feel more like home.

She found happiness in being active and outdoors. Nancy loved horseback riding and swimming, activities that reflected her adventurous spirit and appreciation for freedom and movement. She loved fresh air, sunshine, and the peaceful rhythm of nature. Some of her happiest and most contented moments were spent sitting in the rocking chair on her porch, enjoying the beauty around her. She did not need anything elaborate to feel blessed. A comfortable chair, the outdoors, the familiar view of home, and the company of those she loved were often enough.

Nancy cherished her home on Merrymans Mill Road in Phoenix, Maryland, which she lovingly called her "little slice of heaven." It was more than a house to her. It was a place of peace and belonging, filled with family memories, good food, laughter, and love. It was where people could gather and feel at ease, where the porch offered a quiet place to sit and reflect, and where Nancy could appreciate the life, she had built. Her little slice of heaven reflected Nancy herself: warm, welcoming, peaceful, and full of heart.

Another of Nancy's favorite places was the cottage. It held a special place in her heart and offered the kind of simple happiness she treasured. The cottage was a place to slow down, enjoy the surroundings, share time with family, and make memories. Like her beloved home, it represented comfort, togetherness, and the joy of being present with the people who mattered most.

Nancy also loved to reminisce about her childhood home on Hermosa Avenue. Those memories remained vivid and meaningful throughout her life. She enjoyed recalling the people, places, stories, and experiences that shaped her younger years. Her brother would take her and her siblings on trips down memory lane to visit, giving them the chance to return to familiar places and remember their childhood together. Those visits were about more than streets and houses; they were journeys into treasured family history. They allowed Nancy to reconnect with where she came from and to relive the moments that helped make her the woman she became.

Laughter was one of Nancy's greatest joys. She loved to laugh, and her laughter brought warmth and light to those around her. She appreciated the humor in life and understood the importance of sharing joy, even during difficult times. Her family will remember not only the sound of her laughter but also the way it made everyone else want to laugh along with her. Her ability to find happiness in familiar stories, shared memories, and time spent with loved ones made her presence a gift.

Nancy's life was not measured by grand gestures, but by the countless loving things she did for others. It was present in every meal she prepared, every baked treat she shared, every family gathering she enjoyed, every story she told, and every person she listened to. It was present in the way she adored her grandchildren, cherished her family, welcomed people into her home, and took time to truly hear what was in someone's heart.

Her family will deeply miss her loving presence, her listening ear, her laughter, her baking, and the warmth she brought to every gathering. They will miss seeing her in her rocker, hearing her stories about Hermosa Avenue, reminiscing about the cottage, and enjoying the meals she so generously prepared. They will miss the way she made people feel cared for simply by being herself.

Although Nancy's absence leaves an immeasurable space in the lives of those who loved her, her influence will remain. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, kindness, hospitality, and devotion to family. She showed that a meaningful life is built through caring for others, listening with patience, laughing often, remembering where we came from, and making time for the people we love.

She will be remembered with deep affection and gratitude as a devoted mother, an adoring grandmother, a beloved sister and family member, a faithful friend, a gifted listener, and a generous soul. Nancy gave those around her the feeling of home. Her love will continue to surround her family, just as surely as it did when they gathered in her kitchen, sat beside her on the porch, or joined her for another cherished family celebration.

Her life was a little slice of heaven, and all who knew and loved her were blessed to share in it.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 22, 2026, 10 AM at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 18310 Middletown Road, Parkton MD 21120. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Nancy's memory to Maryland Horse Rescue, PO Box 1997, Westminster, MD 21158. https://mdhorserescue.org/