Obituary of Nancy Hagen Spaulding

We are celebrating the long and bountiful life of Nancy Hagen Spaulding. She passed away at age 83 on the morning of November 14th, in Windsor Colorado of 19 years. Her love, energy and persona will be missed by all who knew her.

Many know Nancy from her connections to Hawaii where she established herself as a business entrepreneur and being actively involved in education. She was highly skilled at networking and being people together; a trait she, and her husband (Vernon E Spaulding II, 2008), brought to Colorado in the early 2000s. She was primarily known for needlepoint, as the owner and 'face' of the Needleworks stores in Kahala Mall and Pearl City shopping center during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Nancy was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Princeton, New Jersey. She attended Miss Fine's School and Penn Hall preparatory. She proceeded onto Pine Manor College and the University of Idaho, finishing with B.A. in Education. A family move brought her to Oahu where she met her future husband, Vernon Spaulding ASID, at a Sigma Chi Fraternity alumnus gathering through her parents Ruth and Ralph Hagen, at the at The Royal Hawaiian hotel. They successfully raised two boys, Lance and Peter Spaulding. Nancy went on to teach at Central Union Church School and settled into the Waialae-Kahala community. She had nieces, and a nephew, Barbara Phelan, Katie and Thomas Kerney, whom she loved as if they were her own.

There were great, month long, cross-country trips over the summers, time spent at a second residence on Maui and countless paddle tennis tournaments at the Pacific Club. This built great memories to be able to reflect on in later years. Careers took the family to California, in 1983, with homebases in Lafayette and Pebble Beach. Her continued affiliation, with the education field, led her into recruiting and executive roles with Hawaii Pacific University, Pine Manor College, and Cal Maritime Academy.

Colorado brought retirement, and exploration, with her 'senior squad.' of all the 'nooks and crannies' the beauty of the state brings to lifestyle. Always engaged, volunteerism with UCHealth Colorado, gave her a perfect bookend to a beautiful life.

There are too many memories to mention, but the Spaulding family would like to thank all the family and friends, on both coasts and Hawaii, for the connections that were made. Our best wishes to all of you.