Nancy North Strickland


MALDEN, MA – Nancy North Strickland, 79, of Malden, peacefully crossed over, entering the spirit world at her home on April 23, 2020. She was born Nancy Jane Isaacson on August 17, 1940 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where her father was on temporary work assignment. He later moved his family to Illinois, then settled in St. Petersburg, FL. There he decided to legally change the family name to “North” as he grew weary of spelling the Swedish “Isaacson” and thought “North” would be much easier as his children approached school age.

Nancy was raised by her parents in the Spiritualist faith and became a regionally recognized medium. While living in Newburyport, Melrose and Malden she encouraged others who shared the same interest, via church and word of mouth, by teaching mediumship development classes in her home which always began by singing, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.” She published her first two books, “You the Medium” (first and second editions) with friend and co-author, Ray Berube. Nancy was working on a third book.

Her several career paths included selling real estate, working in human services and writing a weekly column for the Newburyport Daily News, “As I See It”, but her first love was working with children. She was a substitute teacher for many years in the Newburyport school system, followed by and retiring from, Thom Pentucket Early Intervention in West Newbury, MA. She thoroughly enjoyed 20+ years as an Early Intervention Teacher.

Nancy loved to quilt and became a quilting contributor for many national quilt magazines, producing hundreds of articles. She built lasting friendships of over forty years with her quilting girlfriends. She was an avid gardener and loved taking walks to look at flowers and to the grocery store to meet new people. She believed in the power of a smile. “Always find opportunities to make someone smile, and to offer random acts of kindness in everyday life.”– Roy T. Bennett-

Nancy valued the power of volunteerism and spent countless hours throughout her life helping children and adults with physical and developmental challenges. Nancy enjoyed meeting friends and being an active participant for many years at the Outloud Open Mike at the Beebe Estate in Melrose. Nancy was a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

She is survived by her daughters, Sarah Strickland, Malden, MA; Lisa Hoyt, Salem, VA; a sister, Karen North Wells, Brewster, MA, two brothers; David North of St. Petersburg, FL and Jon Peter North of Gainesville, VA; four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and endless loving friends. She was pre-deceased by her parents Leroy and Elizabeth (Johnson) North, brother George North, and sister Stephanie North Cross.
Per her request, there will be no funeral services; those wishing to make a donation to honor her memory are invited to send one to: Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center : McLean Hospital, Mailstop 138, 115 Mill Street
Belmont, MA 02478 or Secure online gift: https://givemclean.partners.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=359
Please select “Brain Bank Fund” in the ‘Designation’ field.

An online celebration of life service will be held later in May. If you would like to participate in and/or view the service at a later time, please send an email to the family at: nstricklandmemorial@gmail.com To share a message of condolence or a memory of Nancy, please visit: https://www.bostoncremation.org/obituaries

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5 Condolences

  1. Melissa Wattenberg on May 17, 2020 at 12:48 am

    Thanks to Nancy for being a part of our community at OutLoud and in Melrose. You are missed. Condolences to family and friends.



  2. Anina Butler on May 18, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    Such a beautiful soul. Nancy was generous of her time and energies in so many ways. I sat in her development class for years. She was definitely a teacher. And she loved a good laugh.

    My sympathy to the family.



  3. Karen North Wells on May 20, 2020 at 2:03 pm

    Nancy was the best sister anyone could have when growing up. She was my older sister who gave me my first permanent when I was in the fourth grade. When I was in the seventh grade she made me a silk organza dress and slip for a cotillion. Then when I was in college, she and her husband let me and other siblings live with her during the summer while we had good summer jobs.
    I remember her when she 16 going to help out at the Crippled Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
    Lots of good memories, dear Nancy.
    Karen North Welks



  4. Marilyn DeBrase on May 21, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    I had the pleasure of working with (she as an educator–me as a secretary) at Early Intervention for several years. She was always a joy, always upbeat and positive. I always looked forward to seeing her–I am so sorry for your loss.



  5. Raymond G Berube on December 8, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Nancy was a close friend and confidant and this relationship spanned years and 8 oceans. After almost a year since her passing, I miss the chats we had almost weekly. A truly warm and spiritual soul!

    Raymond G Berube
    Dec. 9 202
    Aachen, Germany



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