Nancy Ann (Cross) Deuchler

Nancy Ann Deuchler, 74, died October 5 , 2020 of complications of diabetes.  She was born in 1946 in Atlanta, Georgia.  She was an only child.  Her mother, Mary Lee Cross, was a primary teacher in one of the rural southern Rosenwald elementary schools.  Nancy’s parents, World War II Army veteran Thomas and Mary Cross, moved to the South Side of Chicago in the early postwar years, as did many other African-Americans during that period, for better opportunities.  Nancy attended Catholic schools of the B. V. M. (Blessed Virgin Mary) order.  After she graduated from The Immaculata High School she began her journey as a B. V. M. Catholic nun in Dubuque, Iowa, from 1964 to 1970.  She taught history, dance, and television production at St. Mary’s Center for Learning on Chicago’s West Side.  In 1973 Nancy married Douglas Deuchler.  They lived in Oak Park with their 3 children:  Timothy, Jason, and Samantha.  She is survived by her children and her husband.  Nancy was the manager of several book stores, including Oak Park’s “Barbara’s Bookstore.”  She enjoyed her book club, her creative cookery, her role on the first board of Oak Park’s Ten Thousand Villages store, and she loved caring for her grand-pup, Dexter.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to WITSChicago.org (a juvenile literacy teaching program), and the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org).  Visitation Friday 10:00am - 12:00pm at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home 7319 W. Madison St., Forest Park.  Interment Mount Carmel Cemetery.  Info. 708-366-2200 or www.ZimmermanHarnett.com.