The Nancy Strauss
Hematological Cancer Patient Advocacy Program

Friends and Family Share Their Memories

At the end of the Book of Proverbs we find these immortal words: Eshet chayil mi yimtza, v’ rachok mip’-ni-nim mich-ra. Who can find a woman of worth? Her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts in her... She will do him good all the days of her life... She works willingly with her hands. She stretches out her hand to the poor; She reaches out to the needy. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She looks well to the needs of her household. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but she excels far above them. As a woman who fears God, she shall be praised. Let her deeds praise her in the gates.

There can be no better words than these to describe Nancy Strauss. A caring and loving sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, Nancy took great pride and delight in her family and her friends, giving them love freely, faithfully, and unconditionally.

Nancy Strauss was born on the North Side of Chicago on March 22, 1937, to Carl and Jeanette Borak and was the oldest of three siblings.

The summer after high school graduation Nancy and her friends were at Chicago’s Farwell Beach. Nancy and two friends were sunning on their beach blanket, when up walked a boy that Nancy had never met. Though the two of them had gone to the same high school, their paths had never crossed. Nancy’s girlfriend introduced her to the boy – a gentleman by the name of Jay Strauss. Nancy and Jay hit it off, and Jay proposed on Chicago’s first ever observance of Sweetest Day. On July 2, 1957 they were wed.

Shortly after their marriage, Jay was called to active duty in the Army as a 2nd lieutenant and they were stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri where they welcomed their first child into the world – a baby girl named Jill.

Upon completing his active duty tour in September 1959 they returned to Chicago’s North Side. Some two years later in 1961, their second daughter was born – Lesli.

A short while later they moved to Skokie, where they completed their family upon the birth of a third daughter, Abby, in 1965. In 1970 they moved to Wilmette. Nancy’s sister, Linda, and her husband, Alan lived nearby in Wilmette, as well.

In Wilmette Nancy continued to be a stay-at-home mother and homemaker. Well, maybe “stay-at-home” isn’t quite the right word. You see, though Nancy was a devoted mother and impeccable homemaker, staying at home was not her style. Nancy loved going shopping with friends, doing lunch, and golfing. Nancy was the kind of elegant woman who would present herself to the world with only confidence and grace. Wet hair or a face without makeup were not a part of the protocol.

The family spent many an hour at Green Acres Country Club. Jill, Lesli, and Abby have such fond memories of days spent at the pool, watching their mother play golf, and making friends. Their contemporaries there were like one big happy family and now count among their closest friends.

Family was the most important thing in their lives so many of their vacations included the girls. Nancy and Jay loved seeing the world, and their travels took them all over --- to Mexico, England, France, Italy, Israel, and the Far East. So many wonderful memories.

As the girls grew into their teenage years, they turned to their mother for advice on all the issues faced by adolescent girls. In their mother, Jill, Lesli, and Abby found a trusted confidant and friend who would listen and offer her opinion without criticism or judgment. The girls never felt preached to, talked down to, or belittled – misunderstood perhaps, but always loved and valued. Nancy was so proud of her girls and her love for them was immeasurable.

That’s how Nancy loved --- deeply, unconditionally, truly, and forever. She was a loyal friend who helped anyone in need. She and Linda cared for her parents in their later years sharing that equally. She loved and supported Jay during the worst of times and the best of times. A fair-weather friend she was not.

Nancy’s love extended outward into her community as well. She was an active supporter of both the North Suburban Guild of Children’s Memorial Hospital and of Child Abuse Prevention Services, and most recently ICAN.

There is love for one’s fellow man, for one’s spouse, one’s siblings, and for one’s children, but there is no love like that of a grandparent for their grandchildren. Nancy was the kind of grandmother to Craig, Heather, Rachel and Michael that most children will never know.

Nancy loved all four of those children with her entire being and was a constant, loving presence in their lives. She was there to cheer for them at their school and sports events or to just hang out. The kids spent lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa --- having sleepovers, going shopping, to dinner and to the movies, playing games, and taking trips to the museums.

Now that Nancy and Jay were in their later years and empty-nesters once again, they decided to return to the city, moving to the Gold Coast area of Chicago. In 1980 they decided to buy a home in Arizona and began to visit during the winters there. Until she learned the directions of Scottsdale, Nancy would insist she could find the way home once she got to a certain intersection, but somehow often got lost. Geography and navigation were not exactly Nancy’s strong suit. On a trip to Israel once she declared, “Hey, since we’re here in Israel, we might as well go visit London.”

While living in Arizona, Nancy was determined to keep in touch with all her loved ones. She called her daughters and sister everyday and even learned how to use e-mail to connect to the grandchildren.

She was so proud to hear of their accomplishments and plans for the future: how Craig earned his degrees and fellowship on his path to a career in hospital management, Heather’s plans to be a teacher, Rachel’s goal to be a doctor, perhaps a hematologist, and Michael’s recruitment to play college basketball. How proud she was to be the matriarch of such a beautiful and successful family. She was married to her beloved Jay, her best friend, for 53 years. Her two oldest daughters had married such fine men--David and Jay--whom she dearly loved. And she was equally proud of Abby’s career choice as an attorney and her large group of devoted friends.

In December, 1990, Nancy went for a routine physical where the doctor discovered an abnormal hemoglobin count. He sent her to the Mayo Clinic where it was discovered that Nancy had an extremely rare blood disease: Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia, with an even rarer cold antibody, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the red blood cells. Over time this disease will often transform into Large B Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a condition which carries a poor prognosis. Nancy was fortunate to live many years after her diagnosis with no symptoms, but to stay healthy she needed to stay in the warmer climes of Arizona during the cold months.

Nancy Strauss was truly a woman of valor, valued far above rubies. Her deeds will indeed praise her in the gates. She leaves behind a legacy of love and family, and this generous, gracious, beautiful, loyal, life-embracing woman who loved her family and friends with the deepest kind of love will always be remembered for blessing by her loved ones. May she rest in peace beneath the wings of the Divine Presence. Kein y’hi ratzon, May it be so. And let us say: Amein.

Cantor Kim Harris
December 22, 2010

To submit your own tribute about Nancy here, please email us at ICANCancerPrograms@askican.org and we will post it within 24 hours. Please include your phone number.

The Nancy Strauss Hematological Cancer Patient Advocacy Program<
is a vital part of ICAN's Cancer Patient Advocacy and Clinical Trials Program Advocacy Services.

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