Nancy Louise (Roberts) Hurst, 71, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2023, after a fiercely fought battle with cancer. Her family was by her side to send her off on her next adventure.

Nan was born on July 12 in New Jersey. As a child, she spent a year living in Switzerland and always longed to return. At the ripe old age of 19, she grabbed her nest egg, waved good-bye to her family and headed back to Switzerland. It wasn’t long before she met Graham, a charming Brit and the love of her life. Shortly thereafter they were married and had two lovely daughters. Nancy spent most of her working years at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. She also cleverly found a niche in the Swiss retail market – greeting cards with sentiments printed in English for the Internationals in and around Geneva. She started selling cards “Tupperware party” style, but eventually opened a shop, RSVP, which had a very successful run under Nan’s watch.

Familiar with the area from both family vacations and tales of her long line of Maine ancestors, Nancy and Graham came to Boothbay in 2009 and bought a summer house. They were so taken with the welcoming community and the wonderful friends they had made that they decided to start a new chapter in their lives and become full-time residents.

Nancy befriended everyone she met. She was an excellent cook and hostess and loved having people over for a visit or to join Graham and her for drinks or dinner. When she wasn’t creating in the kitchen, she could be found puttering in the garden, sitting in the sunshine on the deck, or cozied up by the fire in the house she loved. She also enjoyed her volunteer time for the St. Andrews Auxiliary Thrift Shop, happiest manning the cash register where she could meet new people and chat.

Nancy loved having her family come visit and looked forward to big family reunions in the garden. She will be sorely missed by us all. Besides husband Graham, she leaves behind her children, Megan (Hervé Gaufreteau) and Jessica (Fabrice Sutter), grandchildren upon whom she doted, James and Benjamin Gaufreteau, and Alexandra and Amelia Sutter, sisters Sally Toffic and Ann Roberts, step sister Robin Wachenfeld, sister in-law Lisa Roberts, step mother Carol Roberts, step father William Wachenfeld and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brother Douglas Roberts Jr.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be planned for later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, we request that you donate to the American Cancer Society, visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, go shop at the thrift store, or just think of Nan as you raise a glass and take a moment to smell the roses.

Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences please visit Nancy’s Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com