Nancy Ann Randall Duplisea, obituary

Thu, 04/11/2019 - 11:30am

ROCKLAND - Nancy Ann Randall Duplisea, formerly of Houlton, sadly passed away at the Sussman House in Rockport, Sunday, March 24, 2019 after a period of declining health.

Born in Houlton, December 31, 1954 to Ralph and Reta Randall, Nancy knew how to live life and celebrated each birthday with the millions that celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Nancy grew up in Houlton at a time when being a kid meant respecting your elders, following rules (most of the time) and working to earn money to buy what you wanted. She was always the first to be at your side if ever there was a need and to help in any way. She graduated from Houlton High School in 1973. In 1975 Nancy went on to study Culinary Arts in Lewiston where she refined her cooking skills which led her to the many places she worked. From Houlton Regional Hospital, Elm Tree Diner, Shop and Save (Hannaford) in Houlton and Rockland to the Maine State Prison in Warren, she made many close friends along the way.

In 1982 Nancy married Patrick Duplisea and they had a son, Ryan. Ryan was always the most important man in her life. She shared with him her respect and caring for others, her cooking skills and sense of humor (which she got from her Father!).

In 1992 Nancy and Ryan left Houlton and moved to Rockland to begin a new chapter in their lives and it didn’t take long for Nancy to surround herself with more friends and where she met a long-time boyfriend Hayden Peters. She spent her time raising Ryan, and loving life with Hayden, all while working hard for many years, as well as volunteering at the Maine Lobster Festival in the food tent.

After visiting her sister in Arizona, Nancy decided the ‘dry desert heat’ would be a good change from the cold and damp coastal winters and moved there in 2005.  In the years she lived there, Nancy did a lot volunteer work and joined the Elks Club where she received Elk of the year in 2010. There she found more and more friends and really enjoyed being in charge of the kitchen.

Finally missing Maine and her son, Nancy moved back to Rockland in 2014. Despite her declining health, she carried on with the generosity she always gave others. Cooking meals, baking treats, checking up on you if you were ill, making sure you were decorated for every holiday (Christmas was her favorite!) and just being a very good friend.

Nancy, (aka Momma Nanc) made so many friends in her lifetime. From Maine to her time in Arizona, she had more friends than all the stuff in her house (which is a lot!) and she cherished each and every one of them.

Nancy is survived by her son Ryan Duplisea and wife Deby of Rockland; brother Ralph (Butch) Randall and wife Patricia of Dickson, Tennessee and her sister Sandra Petersen of Casa Grande, Arizona; her wonderful niece Misty Baker and handsome nephews, Michael and Matthew Randall of Tennessee and all their children; as well as her longtime companion, Sparky, her beloved dog.  

An informal gathering of love and remembrance will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  To share a memory or condolence with Nancy’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.