Nancy J. Getchell, 71, of Worcester, a longtime teacher in the Fitchburg public schools, died peacefully Thursday, September 26, 2013 at the Reservoir Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Marlborough following a decade-long struggle with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm problem.
     She was born in Lyons, N.Y., the daughter of the late Raymond A. and Marguerite (Cornelius) Collier and had lived in Worcester most of her adult life. She leaves her daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Neil DiCandia of Worcester as well as their six-year old daughter Georgia, the sunshine of her life. She also leaves her sister, Geraldine A. Collier of Worcester and numerous cousins as well as one aunt and uncle in upstate New York.
    Nancy attended Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. her freshman year, then transferred to Clark University where she majored in history and earned a bachelor of arts degree. She then earned a master’s degree in elementary education at Worcester State College and later attended many courses in order to keep up her skills.
    She taught for more than 40 years in the Fitchburg public schools, most of that time as a fourth grade teacher at Reingold Elementary School. She loved being a school teacher, despite putting in long hours, correcting tests and papers and making out lesson plans at the dining room table.
    She was always fond of her students, the good ones and those with behavior problems. And often it was the ones who had presented problems who came back to see her later on, to tell her about their lives and thank her for what she did for them. Among the possessions she prized was a large box of photographs, a class photo for every year she taught. She would have stayed as a teacher for many more years if her illness had not forced an early retirement.
Nancy loved to travel and made many trips to Europe with her sister; she particularly loved Ireland and England, but never went anywhere she didn’t want to return to. She was a great reader, loving in particular mystery and historical novels, and was an ardent Red Sox and Patriots fan, watching all their games on television when she was no longer able to go to Fenway Park or Foxboro.
    Nancy loved music, frequently attending the Worcester Music Festival concerts and she loved the theater, often going into Boston for a play. She was a great cook, always on the lookout for new recipes she could try. She also loved antiquing and there weren’t many auctions or antique shows that she missed.
     Nancy’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of the Reservoir Center for Health and Rehabilitation for the devoted care they provided to Nancy.
     Calling hours are Sunday, September 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral will be Monday, September 30, from the funeral home with a Mass at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 1052 Pleasant St., Worcester. Burial will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.