Nanci Bogan, 70, passed away at her home surrounded by her loved ones on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, after losing her battle with cancer.

Nanci enjoyed every morsel of time she got to spend with her grandkids and granddog. They were her pride and joy. She loved baking them Birthday cakes and would often wake up and choose someone to bake cookies for to brighten their day. She enjoyed boating, going on vacation, knitting and crocheting scarves and blankets to give away. She loved playing cards with "the girls" and going out on weekends to meet her large circle of friends. She was so proud and excited to enjoy a vacation home in Florida with a whole new circle there of friends to love.

Nanci was a people person. She was not only the Matriarch of her family, she was the Matriarch of her social circle. She was the director of fun, vacations, and adventures. She loved hosting parties, including hosting her own Celebration of Life Party weeks before her untimely departure.

What everyone loved most about Nanci was her infectious smile and ability to make everyone feel welcomed, included and loved. She was everyone's friend, taking a genuine interest in each person she would meet. She had a knack for remembering dates; she would know your Birthday, your kids Birthday and their kids Birthday, even if she met you one time. We called her "The Calendar Girl."

Nanci is is survived by her loving husband and Best Friend of 53 years, Rick Bogan, her daughters Traci and Jennifer (Michael) Olkwitz. Her grandchildren Andrew, Tayler Basset and Savannah Olkwitz; two brothers, Tom (Roxanne) Robbins and Robin Robbins; sister-in-law, Carla Valdez, nieces, nephews, and her BBFs Leslie and Bob Mudge and Bonnie and Jr Leque and so many friends they can't all be counted. In addition to her parents, Nanci was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon.

When the Matriarch of a family dies, her death heralds the end of an era, the gradual disappearance of a Legacy and a bond that can never be replaced.

It's difficult to grasp how a vibrant human life can be reduced to some pictures on a board and a Eulogy sharing our most precious memories in just a few paragraphs; in hopes that one might understand the significance of what her life truly meant to us and gain a sense of who she was, who we are through her and appreciate the lineage she passed on of kindness and generosity to everyone she met as a true and trusted friend.

Mom was our family's foundation and guiding light. She was our bright north star with an infectious smile that panned as wide as the skyline. She was never consumed with material things. She valued people most of all, especially her family. She had more energy and interest in people and life than anyone I've met and I doubt I will ever know anyone who embodies her generous spirit, infectious smile and sheer joy of making friends as much as she did. She just had a way of making everyone feel welcomed, included and loved.

She was a master budgeter, the Calendar Girl, the planner, the cook, the baker, the banker, the homemaker, the shopper, the fill in mom, the President of all things fun. She was always on time, never missed a Birthday or special occasion, never showed up empty handed, and was always available to lend a hand.  She had three Best Friends, each over 50 years.

She was funny, even when talking about her impending death and how things should go.

She encouraged my dad to go out and date again… She said "but just not a week after I'm gone." She wanted him to wait a hot minute!

She said he should use common sense on the road and find himself another co-pilot to be his eyes (and lately his ears) while driving, She said "but hopefully not one quite as good or as cute as I am."

She scooted around the house with her walker singing the tune "They call me the wanderer, yeah the wanderer – I roam around around around – Oh well there's Rick on my left and Traci on my right… I wonder what visitor I will get tonight…"

One day she said to the hospice nurse "I want to die around next week Tuesday because I have plans all this weekend and don't want to miss them. The Nurse had to tell her that she was not there to kill her with the Morphine, just make her more comfortable. Mom said ""Well that's dumb! I'm ready to die." The nurse told her that was between her and God. Mom said "well then I guess I will start talking to him AFTER Sunday so there's no mistakes with my weekend plans."

As many of you know, mom was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer last December at age 69. Despite this diagnosis, her passion for life and her contagious curiosity did not wane.  She continued to be an inspiration by living life to the fullest, while facing her mortality with such bravery and courage, with such dignity and grace.

I asked her several times if she was afraid to die and her answer was always "No. We are all born to die and I believe only my body will die. I lived 70 great years and had a world of fun. Look at all the kids over at St. Judes Hospital who are suffering and getting ripped off of their lives far sooner than me. I do feel like I was just getting started and I do wish I had more time to enjoy Florida, but I am proud and happy with the way I lived my life."

She wanted to die four months ago and asked me almost daily why her body wouldn't die. I told her it was because of how incredibly well she took care of it. She exercised daily for years and had such incredible daily habits around taking good care of herself. I told her that her heart was healthy and strong, and her heart was so full of life and love that it would be the last organ to shut down. We will never forget the moment at 7:10pm on June 28th when her heart stopped beating, and ours hearts broke.

She never wanted to burden anyone with the feeling like they had to take care of her, especially on her more challenging days. Her selflessness didn't just show up after her diagnosis – she has been this way her whole life, putting others first and wanting to be her family and friends' rock.

Mom took care of every last detail of her funeral arrangements and cremation, making it so easy for us to navigate through this most difficult time of our lives. She was so detailed in her instructions to claim her Life Insurance Policy, she even wrote for us to press ZERO on the phone.

In her final weeks we wrote her obituary together, made videos and wrote letters for her family so they may always be reminded of how special they were to her.

She never liked to miss a good party, especially her own, so she even hosted her own Celebration of Life Party prior to her passing so she could enjoy a final luncheon with 200 of her closest friends and family. That's just who she was.

My Mother was not only the Matriarch of our family, she was the Matriarch of her social circle. She was the social butterfly, party planner, and leader and director of fun, vacations, and adventures.

She was a reliable figure of what it means to be a "True Friend" to all who knew her, with her genuine interest in each person's life and family of anyone she ever met. She always wanted to know if you were having fun.

I give thanks and reverence to the Mom –  who so many of my friends called "Mom" and who was everybody's friend for life. To know her was to love her and feel so loved right back.

She was the glue that kept us all bonded together and our bridge to buying a a vacation home in Florida and experiencing a whole new aspect of winter living.

I and so many of us will forever admire her courage and bravery navigating her life in health and in sickness, doing it her way, on her terms. She really lived and died doing it her way. She was a true warrior of courage and example for us all to learn from.

OUR BELOVED NANCI

We knew this time would come, another life meets its end

And though it's never talked about, we can no longer pretend

The end of an era, is gone.

How do you describe 70 years of a life well lived in a short poem

And showcase the fun that was had, in the decades that have flown?

The Bohns, the Mudges, the Valdezes and all the Robbins Fam

The Leques, the Lesperances, The Supraks & The Water's Edge Clan

In the afternoon of her life, she loved being out on the water boating

Pine Island Beach, rides with Dad in the T-bird & endless Grand-kid gloating

Volleyball parties in the backyard and day-drinking out at Lolly's

Hawaii, Mexico, Florida and decades of memorable fun and follies

The Fireman's Picnic, Freemont Hotel and Wo-Zha-Wa Days

The Bushwacker Boat, Cookouts and weekend Lake Poygan stays

The Dells, The Party Doll and bus rentals just to go bar-hopping

Kankakee Bowling parties, Disneyland and souvenir shopping

The old Salmon-A-Rama and the beer backpack at St. Martin's Fair

The basement pool league and the Beatles blasting on road-trips up to Blair

First Fridays, Party on The Pavement and Walking Downtown

Singing "Johnny get Angry" to Dad and all the oldies from Motown

All the parties on KR and all the gatherings on the Lincoln Street porch

Mom's annual Christmas Eve Parties, it will take big shoes to carry the torch

Seventy years of incredible memories that seemingly would never end

Mom was the glue that held us together, she was simply everybody's friend

She loved coffee clutching, playing cards with "the girls" and baking

She loved dinners at Jen & Michaels and making choc-chip cookies for the taking

She loved head massages and soft tickles on her feet

Exploring small towns in Mexico and eating anything sweet

She enjoyed Wells Brothers pizza and eating Cookie Dough

Taking bus trips to the Casino and Popcorn at the Show

She loved to sit in the recliner and knit and crochet

She'd make blankets, hats, and scarfs just to give away

Her staple was Lifetime Movies and sipping Tea

And exercising 2 hours straight while watching TV

She loved going to Suds for Packer and Brewer games

And if she met you once she'd never forget your name

Andrew, Tayler, Savannah and Harper were the Apples of her eye

She spoiled them every chance she could with cookies, cake and pie

Sleepovers meant French toast for breakfast and a trip to the Beach

Making jokes in the kitchen with Tayler and new card games to teach

She'd do anything for her family because she loved us all so much

And let us know she was thinking of us with a "3 Tap" touch

(3 taps on the arm = I love you)

She had a special way of making us each feel so fancy

She will live on in our hearts forever, our beloved Nanci

I know she is not gone, her journey's just begun

Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one

Our hearts are filled with memories, our eyes are full of tears

Our lives are filled with missing you, that will span throughout the years

Our Matriarch is gone but we have instructions by example, from the best

If we live with a fraction of the courage she had, we will each earn our rest

Mom, we will see you on the other side!

Love Your Daughter, Traci

Service Details

A celebration of her life will be held in the funeral home on July 9 ^th at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be held in the funeral home, that day, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Memorial Suggestions

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the family to establish a living memorial, at a later date OR to St. Judes Hospital.