Nanci Kendall passed on at her home with her husband, William T. McCarriston, Jr., October 7, 2017 after a brief illness. She is the daughter of the late Hiram P. Shorter and Jane Mathews, born in Belmont, Massachusetts. She is survived by her husband, William; her sister Susan C. Gilkie of Waltham; three stepsons, and their wives and children: William, III of Salem; Mark, wife Julie, step grand -daughters Julie and Sarah of Danvers; Jon, wife Lisa step grandchildren Jon and Amanda of Haverhill. There are several nieces and nephews, their wives and children. While completing high school in Belmont, Nanci started her career in retail and fashion as a part time clerk in the Jordan Marsh Boston Store.  She rose quickly to become a buyer of fashion women’s dresses.  Simultaneously, she completed her retailing degree at Lasell Junior College.  Her next position involved working closely with Nancy and Rudi Talbot, assisting with the development of the Talbot Catalogue and on- line shopping.  She attended IBM Institute and Northeastern University.  She next moved to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries where her retailing, creativity and organizational skills were employed for a “higher purpose”.  She was most successful in increasing store sales exponentially. However, her sense of seeking a higher purpose of her work took her to volunteer as the chaplain at several Massachusetts Correctional Facilities and eventually Directorship of the Christian Science Chaplaincy Program. She dedicated many hours organizing, staging and executing numerous special events for not-for –profit organizations, including those with her husband. Continuing as a volunteer, she was invited to join a pre-school class as a volunteer which she did joyfully as was her custom.  So pleased was she with the work, that she sought further classroom volunteer work and served in Braintree.  She was so taken with the classroom that she returned to college at Bridgewater State to acquire her Teaching Credential.  Upon completion, she began as a permanent substitute teacher at the Ralph Butler School in Avon.  Shortly, she became a second grade teacher developing many special events for her students:  Math Super Bowl, Lemonade Stand (for math night), poetry day for the holiday season, and the Performing Theater Puppet Show.  She was also instrumental in providing third grade students with Town history lessons by her reenacting of Elizabeth Harris at the Harris House, an 18th Century home in Avon. She was extraordinarily active in her church, First Church of Christ Scientist of Sharon where she served volunteering as the Reading Room Librarian, and eventually as the First Reader. Her life was dedicated to her God and to the service of all His people in whatever way she could find to help appropriately. In memory of Nanci contributions may be made to the First Church of Christ Science Building Fund or to a service organization of your choice. A celebration of Nanci’s life will take place November 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Rising Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. 925 Pleasant Street (Rt. 139), one mile West of Rt. 24, Stoughton, MA. Following the celebration, a luncheon will be served at Chateau Restaurant, 1165 Park Street Stoughton.

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