Nancy Jean Gebhardt

Nancy Jean Smith Gebhardt, “Nancy” passed away peacefully February 27, 2026 in Belchertown, MA. after a short illness.

Nancy was born October 12, 1931 in Barre Town, Vermont, the daughter of the late Ross and Geneva Kennedy Smith. She graduated from Spalding High School in Barre, VT and Concordia Lutheran University in Bronxville, NY.

While working teaching deaf children at Mill Neck Manor school on Long Island, New York, Nancy met William Gebhardt. They were married in July 1956. She went on to teach elementary education at several schools around central Maine. She transitioned from teaching to a 15-year career at the Admissions Office at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

Nancy enjoyed cooking, baking, reading and a good game of cribbage among other activities. She attended First Lutheran Church in Holyoke and was a member of the Ladies Guild there. Nancy spent a lot of time researching her family history and was a member of the Brooks-Green Woods Chapter for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

She had unwavering love for her family. She is survived by 2 sons, Peter (wife Maria), of Neenah, WI and Tom (wife Lisa), of South Hadley, MA. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Catherine, William, Kimberly, Hannah, and Tommy and 3 great-grandsons.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband William, brother Victor Smith and sister-in-law Gerri Smith.

Burial will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Rochester, Vermont on June 6th at 11:30 followed by a celebration of her life at the Rochester Pierce Hall Community Center.