Nancy Schmitz, surrounded by her family, passed away quietly on November 19, 2022 from complications of pneumonia just a few days after her 84th birthday. She is survived by her daughters Edith (Allan) and Erica (Guillaume); her grandchildren Chloe, Nicolas, Stella, Louis and Mariane; her husband André; as well as her sisters and nieces, Elizabeth (Ray), Janet, Jennifer Natalie and Amy.

Born in Kansas City to William E. Schmitz and Anna Kitts, Nancy was a brilliant, confident and inspiring woman. A recipient of a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and a Fulbright Scholarship, she left her home and family to study abroad and travel. She fell in love with Quebec City, where she established roots, cherished Ireland and Brittany and also lived in Acadie, Bolivia and Paris. She was a professor of anthropology at Université Laval where she accompanied generations of students.

Nancy was a quiet force of nature and a woman way ahead of her time. She raised two daughters as a single parent with love and pride. She lived her life with optimism and joy, greeting others with open arms and sharing her home with many. She was an exceptional role model as a woman and a mother.

A celebration of life will be held at the Quai des Cageux in Quebec City (2795 Boul. Champlain, G1K 4J9) on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Family will greet guests starting at 1:30 p.m. A ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to Parkinson Québec (parkinson- quebec.ca/en/donate/in-memoriam; 560 rue Ontario Est Montreal (Québec) H2L 0B6.