Nancy Ann (Nichols) Effron – It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Nancy Ann Effron, 86, of Colchester, VT on April 18, 2025. Surrounded by her loving family, Nancy passed away peacefully at her Colchester, VT home.

Nancy and husband, Melvyn Effron, shared their lives together with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends and relatives from Cleveland, OH, Rochester, NY and Burlington, VT. Mel first knew Nancy was the love of his life when they met at Glenville High School in Cleveland. These high school sweethearts shared their journeys, living home and abroad, for 67 years.

Their children - Michael (Connie) Effron, Underhill, VT; Michelle (Jay) Miller, Philadelphia, PA; and Matthew Effron, Essex Junction, VT. - share fond memories of dear family friends, like the Dentons and the Walczaks who lived at the end of Ethan Allen Parkway in Burlington, VT when their children were young. Those wonderful Vermont days were filled with family skiing trips, hiking, camping, and many other adventures. To this day, the three families remain an integral part of each other's lives due to the eternal friendship between Nancy and her best friends, Sandy Denton and Mary Walczak. Daughter of Sandy, Sara Denton, and her daughter, Madison, of Burlington, VT., stayed by Nancy's side both day and night through her illness. For this, the Effron family is forever grateful.

Nancy's most passionate joy was her endearing relationships with her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Lindsay (Brett) Germeroth; Rachel Miller; Justin Creed (z'l); Abigail Claire Arceneaux-Effron; Jackson Germeroth and Sloane Germeroth.

Nancy nurtured and loved many friends and family throughout her life. In Cleveland, Nancy treasured her relationships with her beloved sister-in-law, Lorraine Kahn (z'l) and her children: Stan (Marlena) Kahn, Terri (Mike) Sexton and Debbie (Michael) Barry. She found immense joy in the mitzvah of introducing her best, high school friend, Pearl (z'l), to a fellow Holocaust survivor, Al Hersh. The two later married and Nancy continued to celebrate hearing from Pearl about her long and happy marriage, including the news of the birth of their six children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In addition to being a remarkable homemaker, baker, fiber artist, and booklover, Nancy volunteered at C.P. Smith Elementary School in the PTO and as secretary to the principal. She enjoyed her years working side by side with Midge Clark and others who became lifelong friends. Later, she worked as a secretary at the University of Vermont, Department of History, supporting staff and students with her kindness and wisdom. More than her job, she listened to homesick students, with tissue in hand, concerning their trials and tribulations, and befriended many of the professors. For years, Nancy enjoyed card stamping and became friends with the group's members including, dear friend Joy McGrath.

With a strong and passionate sense of moral principle, she advocated for children with published letters to the editor printed in the Burlington Free Press. She was also editor of the community newspaper, That Paper, of the New North End and hosted parties for political candidates in her home.

Her roots in her home state of West Virginia created a lifelong genealogical search of her people from lush, green mountain hollows to the founding, pioneer settlements of Nicholas County, WV and Morgan County, KY. Her father Harry Lee Nichols tragically passed away in a coal mining accident when she was nine years old. But the many strong women of her family shaped the fiber of her being, including grandmother Clara (Lewis) Williams; mother, Shirley (Williams) Nichols; cousin Carol (Bandy) Brown; aunt Judy (Williams) White; and cousin, Christy White. Nancy's tireless research into her family's beginnings resulted in her becoming a member of the Towamencin Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). With her daughter, Michelle, their research discovered their ancestors' foundation of the early Virginia colonies and allowed them both to read and explore the NSDAR Book Club and the many books of our country's fight for freedom.

A true gem of a person, Nancy was kind and creative, loved nature and animals (especially stray cats), and had sympathy for all. Her charity to anyone in need became the hallmark of her life. Her infectious laughter, sincere smile and loving embrace will be deeply missed.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 22, at 11:00 AM at Lakeview Cemetery, 455 North Ave., Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Towamencin Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) for purposes of promoting patriotism, preserving American history, educational initiatives and honoring veterans https://towamencinpadar.org/; The McClure Miller Respite House, UVM Health Network - Home Health & Hospice https://www.uvmhomehealth.org/; Temple Sinai of Burlington, VT https://www.templesinaivt.org/; or a charity of your choice.