Nancy O. Hess

Nancy Louise Owens Hess passed away on February 13, 2024, after a long battle with illnesses in her lungs. She was 76 years old. Nancy never surrendered during this battle; quitting was not an option. Despite the severity of her sickness, she was determined to do anything for more time with her beloved children and grandchildren. Nancy gave her children, grandchildren, friends, family, and the doctors and nurses who supported her through this journey, a real lesson on resilience and perseverance.

Nancy had profound worldly experiences. Traveling her entire life: Africa, Germany, India, China, you name it, she had a story of adventure to follow. Nancy began her career in 1980 as president of China Educational Tours (CET), which organized and operated educational exchanges, study abroad programs, and study tours primarily in the People’s Republic of China for U.S. colleges and universities and for U.S. independent schools. CET’s Chinese language programs, in both Beijing and Harbin were among the very first available to U.S. students, and their successor programs are still in operation.

In 1994 Nancy moved on to another endeavor founding the Institute for Transitional Economies (ITE), which operated professional exchange programs for business executives and local/provincial government leaders from China and from Central European and Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union after the collapse of the government. These programs were often run in partnership with U.S. universities and funded by U.S. Department agencies.

A midlife career change brought Nancy to Elizabeth Stone House (now Stone House), precipitated by the political upheaval and military action in the countries that ITE focused on. To financially support her children, Nancy worked long hours at ITE during the day and worked nights at Stone House part-time. In 1999, Nancy began working full time at Stone House, a nonprofit organization that supports adult and child domestic violence survivors. Nancy was devoted to Stone House’s vision and mission “Safe Now, Strong Forever.” After 24 years with the agency, Nancy retired in November 2023 as Chief Executive Officer.

Nancy is predeceased by her parents, Henry and Christine “Louise” Owens, and her brother Richard Owens. She is survived by her three children, Charles, Elisabeth and William, and her six grandchildren, Hannah (19), Tyler (15), Isabel (10), Henry (8), Gabriela (5) and Liam (4). Nancy also leaves behind many extended family members and friends, some of with whom friendships spanned over 50 years. Personally, Nancy treasured quality time and traditions with family and friends, creating endless crafts, reading, writing, and making lakeside memories. Nancy opened her home on Squam Lake to anyone who needed an escape and an opportunity to relish in the beautiful landscape.

Calling hours will be held at Mayhew Funeral Home (12 Langdon Street, Plymouth, NH 03264) on Friday, February 23rd from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. Not a traditional woman, Nancy requested that a Celebration of Life be held at Walter’s Basin (859 US-3 Holderness, NH 03245). The family invites those who knew and loved Nancy to join them at Walter’s Basin on Saturday, February 24th from 12:00 pm-3:00 pm to share stories that envelop the amazing life Nancy led. As Nancy put it so often when discussing end of life wishes, all she wanted was a “big party!”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Stone House ( www.stonehouseinc.org ), an organization that was dear to Nancy, or the Squam Lakes Association ( www.squamlakes.org ) to support the integrity of the lake in which Nancy built so many memories for friends and family that will forever be cherished.