Nancy Edwards-Cogswell
Nancy Edwards-Cogswell, age 82, formerly of Newtown, died quietly at her life care residence in Jacksonville, Oregon, on June 22. She was born in Plainfield, N.J., on January 2, 1938, daughter of John Ralph and Ruth Edwards. The family lived in both Westfield, and in Short Hills, N.J., where Nancy and her older brother, Robert Edwards, received their early education.
Nancy’s family moved to Farmington, Conn., in 1954. There she graduated from Oxford School in West Hartford in 1956 and then attended Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., for one year. She then enrolled in and graduated from the Yale School of Nursing in New Haven. As a young nurse, she later completed a BS degree in nursing at the University of Bridgeport.
Nancy was passionate in her work of over 40 years as a psychiatric nurse and in her volunteer service to the community. She was employed for many years by Danbury Hospital Psychiatric Services and also at various times at both Waterbury and Bridgeport hospitals and at Four Winds in Putnam County, N.Y.
She is survived by Richard Cogswell, her husband of 43 years, and her son, John Alexander Morrissey, and his wife, Molly Sawyer, residents of Asheville, N.C.
Her family also includes her husband’s three daughters, Leslie Hoffmann and husband, Bruce Hoffmann, of Danbury; Lisa Cogswell and husband, David Grant, of Medford, Ore.; and Carolyn Arendt and husband, Daniel Arendt, of Affton, Mo.; and Richard’s three granddaughters, Hannah Hoffmann and Lindsay and Catherine Arendt.
Nancy and Richard Cogswell were married in Newtown in 1977 where they then resided for 22 years. They both retired in 1998 and then relocated to New London, N.H., where they spent 12 happy and active years in retirement.
She and Richard made a final move to Medford, Ore., in 2010, and for the past six years have been living at Pioneer Village, a life care and assisted living community in Jacksonville, Ore., as her cognitive health slowly declined. She was afflicted with Alzheimer’s dementia eight years ago that ultimately claimed her life.
Final burial services for Nancy will take place at an undetermined future date when her ashes will be placed in eternal rest in the Memorial Garden at Trinity Episcopal Church in Newtown.
I am so sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing. She was a good friend and often a sounding board for me during the years we shared walks, music, talks and good times. I cherish my memories and the relationship we developed. When I sing the songs we learned together I smile and remember how important she was to me.
Boots, as she was known to us (her middle name), was bright, articulate, and energetic. While at Oxford where we met, Boots was a vibrant part of our a capella songsters. An athlete, she was a terror on the field hockey team. We maintained contact over the many years and had annual lunches with our classmates. Always positive, Boots was a true friend. So sad that she is gone.
Sandy McDonough
Dick Cogswell, what an excellent and very accurate verbal replay of Nancy’s meaningful and wonderful life. I did not see mention, though, of her years as a nursing instructor at Grace- New Haven School of Nursing at the Yale Medical Center which, as you know, is where she and I Met and became fast friends and roommates. (I mention the omission not at all as a criticism, but rather wanting to add to her long list of accomplishments.?) I always knew I could count on Nancy coming to my side, whether it be verbally or in person, whenever I needed her. I loved her completely and am forever grateful
for my tight friendship with her. How fortunate you were to have met and married my amazing friend. As a fellow ‘cradle’ Episcopalian I am delighted to know how that you met each other, at the Episcopal Church. Nancy was an excellent RN, and with her psychiatric training became such a wonderful instructor at the Yale Medical
center. I was very proud to have been her friend and proud to have been a fellow instructor with her.