Obituary of Ann Nancy Donegan

DONEGAN, Ann Nancy (Warner) 82, of New Britain, CT, passed from this life surrounded by her loving family on February 20, 2016. Nancy was born in Boston, MA, on May 24, 1933, to the late Joseph A. Warner and Gertrude (Crowe) Warner. She grew up in Watertown, MA and graduated from Matignon High School in 1951.  Nurtured by a very special nun and teacher, she developed a lifelong passion for literature, theater, and the arts. She graduated magna cum laude from Boston College in 1955. She became an elementary school teacher in Dighton, MA, in 1956. Nancy married her first husband, the late A. Joseph Donegan in 1957.  The two made their home in Brockton, MA for over 27 years where they raised their two children and developed many lasting and meaningful friendships. Nancy was anything but a conventional woman. She was active in Brockton's thriving cultural and artistic community in the 1960's and 70's, where she acted, sang and danced in numerous local theatre productions. She co-owned an antique store: Etcetera in Brockton. She created numerous paintings that are admired and cherished by family and friends. Eventually Nancy returned to her early love of teaching, taking a job in the English Department at Brockton High School for several years.  In 1986, she moved to Providence, RI, to pursue a Master's degree in creative writing at Brown University. There she met, fell in love with, and married Professor Walter R. Davis. Nancy and Walter were beloved members of the Brown University community and Providence's east side neighborhood where they lived, wrote, taught and created. Nancy particularly loved poetry and literature, and was revered by the many students she taught and guided.  In 1989, Nancy published a book of her original poems entitled:  The Forked Rivers. She continued reading, writing and creating art throughout her life. Nancy and Walter were beach lovers who particularly loved the RI coast and vacationing together at their special, idyllic spot on Long Island, ME. In 2011, Nancy moved to New Britain, CT.  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carmel (Donegan) and Peter Bennett of Kensington, CT, her son Anthony Donegan of Brockton, MA, her grandchildren Connor Joseph Bennett and Julia Ann Sui Bennett of Kensington, CT, Seamus Donegan and Javier Donegan of Brockton, MA, her sister and brother-in-law Joan (Warner) and Joseph McHugh of Dedham MA, her cousin, Maureen (O'Connell) Palmer of Hanover, MA, as well as many beloved relatives, nieces and nephews. Nancy was predeceased by a brother, Hon. Joseph P. Warner and his wife Jane Warner. She is also survived by her husband Walter's children, Peter Davis and his wife Jana of Carmel, IN, Alison Greenberg and her husband Paul of Milford, CT, Mark Davis of Boston, MA, Cathy Davis of Pawtucket, RI, and Elizabeth Davis of Coventry, CT, as well as his grandchildren, Erin Davis, of Chicago, IL, Curtis Porter, of Bangor, ME, Alec Greenberg of Milford, CT, and Rebecca Greenberg of Shelton, CT. A gathering of Nancy's family to remember and celebrate her life will be held at a future time.