Obituary of Nancy Halbich

Nancy (Roberts) Halbich passed away at Care One in Wilmington on Friday morning, September 9, 2022. The wife of the late Frederick F. Halbich she was 88 years old.

Nancy was born in Chelsea. She was raised and educated in Winthrop. Nancy was one of eight children born to the late John and Dorothy Roberts.  At the age of 19 she would marry Frederick Halbich, who she met at a local beach in Winthrop.  They moved to Burlington in 1956 where they would raise their three children and become very involved in the community.

Nancy worked for the town of Burlington in several roles, first at the treasurer’s office, before becoming the Veterans Agent Assistant for the Town of Burlington for over 24 years.  Nancy worked with four different Veterans agents and was well versed in all aspects of her job.  She was an asset to the office and helped many Veterans within the community throughout her years of service.  From there she worked at the Credit Union in Burlington for several years.

Nancy was a devout Catholic and a longtime member of St. Malachy’s in Burlington, where she volunteered for 15 years. She had many different roles in the church. She was part of a group of parishioners that was the backbone of the church that helped the parish community strengthen and grow.  In addition to volunteering at St. Malachy’s she was a longtime volunteer for People Helping People Burlington Community Food Pantry and the DARE Program.

Nancy’s family was the center of her life.  She was a loving and supportive wife to her husband Fred.  They were married 66 years at the time of his death in 2019.  She was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain at her home.    In 1978 Nancy and Fred bought a vacation home on Northeast Pond, a picturesque community located in Lebanon Maine.  Many wonderful family memories were created at their home, and it gave Nancy so much joy when in later years her daughter Paulette and son-in-law David took over the home, and continued the traditions that Nancy and Fred had created. As a mom, she was giving, and always there with her support and guidance for her three children.    Nancy’s grandchildren and great grandson were her greatest joy.  She was an awesome “Nana” whose door was always open to her grandchildren.   Nancy provided her children, grandchildren and great grandson with love, wisdom, fun and encouragement throughout their lives. 

Nancy’s personality defined her.  She was never at a loss for words, her quick wit & humor was something to be admired, and she had no problem telling you what was on her mind.  She was strong-willed, spirited, and determined.  Nancy always wanted to do everything for everyone, that was just the kind of person she was.  Nancy will be remembered for her love of her family, her church and the community she lived in.

Nancy was the wife of the late Frederick.  Loving mother of Christine Donovan & her late husband Paul of Billerica, Paulette Harris & her husband David of Tyngsboro and Frederick Halbich & his late wife Paula of Salem, NH.  Proud grandmother of Sarah Sullivan & her husband Steve, Crysta Nancy Harris & her fiancée Ben Taylor, Stephanie Harris and the late Paul “P.J.” and Michael Donovan.  Great grandmother of Cameron A. Maglio-Donovan.  Sister of Barbara Brownell of AZ, William Roberts of NH, Dorothy “Dottie” Elkins of OR, Paul Roberts of CO and the late Joan Malone, John “Jack” Roberts and George Roberts. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 4-7 p.m.  Funeral from the Funeral Home on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m.  Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Malachy Church, in St. Vernonica Parish, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at Noon.  Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers memorials in Nancy’s name may be made to People Helping People, PO Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803. 

Family Remembrance by Stephanie Harris

About 15 years ago I gave my grandmother, Nancy Halbich, a tiny sticker— probably the size of a pea. The sticker was a green turtle, because Nana’s favorite color was green. And I thought that was SO cool. Because in my nine year old mind and traditionally, girls liked pink and purple, not green. But if you knew Nancy, you knew she was firm in her beliefs. She didn’t back down, she just politely told you, “I like green better.” Or, I’d show her a photo of a dress I wanted to buy for the homecoming and she’d say “It’s not my favorite.” I’d try out a new chicken recipe and she’d say “Thank you honey, but I wasn’t much for the sauce.” But she did, however, like the green turtle sticker because,15 years ago, she stuck the sticker on her watch—the watch she wore everyday. That tiny turtle sticker stayed on her watch for over a decade. It was there through it all. It stuck on while Nancy worked at the town hall, volunteered at the church, cooked her famous meatloaf, hosted holidays, watched Sara’s lacrosse games, lounged at the lake, waited for me and my sister at the bustop, and beat us all in Scrabble and cribbage games. The sticker stayed on through happy times, like weddings and graduations, and sad times like today. One day, Nana was dressed up for a special occasion and the green, silly sticker on her watch caught my eye. I said something along the lines of “Oh jeez, Nana. You don’t have to leave that turtle there. Peel it off so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb!” She immediately stopped me in her characteristically frank and witty way asking, “Why on earth would I take it off?” I paused. She said, “You gave it to me.” And I think that speaks volumes to who Nancy was. She’d do anything for her family-even if it meant wearing a turtle sticker everyday to make her granddaughter smile. She was committed, selfless, confident, sharp as a tact, with a quick wit and a bright smile. I can only hope to be half the woman she was. Yesterday, I asked Freddy, her son and my uncle, what one word he would use to describe Nancy, and he said: My mom “doted over her family, friends and loved ones.” I had no idea what the word “doted” meant so he sent me the definition last night. Quote “If you say that someone dotes on a person, you mean that they love them very much and ignore any faults they may have.” End quote. Perfect word choice, Freddy. Because yes, Nancy loved her family, in all of our faults and quirks, like silly turtle stickers. She’d truly do anything for us all. And she did! I mean the number of meals she cooked, bed sheets she changed and laughs she induced, we could’ve never repay her. Thank you all for listening to this anecdote, and for coming to celebrate the life of Nancy Halbich. A wonderful life she lived- born in Chelsea, Nancy was the oldest of 8. Her and her siblings grew up in Winthrop—where on a local beach—she met my grandfather Frederick Halbich. Nancy and Fred married, moved to Burlington and raised three children—Christine, Fred, and Paulette, who, then had children of their own and made Nancy a grandmother to PJ, Mike, Sara, Crysta, and myself, and a great grandmother to Cameron. Nancy and Fred retired, vacationed around the world, and grew old together, surrounded by their family and friends. We’re all so saddened by the loss of Nancy- a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. But we are comforted in knowing that she’s with Fred in heaven, reminiscing on this life. Nana, we love you deeply and we’ll miss you each and every day. Forever in our hearts. Thank you.