Nancy Willis Rich

The Rev. Nancy W. Rich died peacefully and unexpectedly on December 16, 2024, at the age of 88. She was born to the late Howard Mott Willis and Virginia Stump Willis.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 65 years, James C. Rich; children: Susan C. Rich of Bay City, MI, Robert S. Rich (Tamara James) of Columbus, OH, Jennifer Rich of Euclid, OH, and Elizabeth M. R. (John) Hartke; grandchildren: Amanda Lynn Rich (Chris Walker), and Lee (Brittney) Rich, all of Columbus, OH; and great-grandchildren: Allison, Hailey, and Benjamin Rich, all of Columbus, OH.

Nancy was born and raised in Washington, DC, where she graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School. She received a B.A. in Philosophy/Religion from Western Maryland College followed by a B.S. in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.

It was in Morgantown that Nancy met Jim Rich, and on August 22, 1959, they were married and then moved to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They raised a family in a wonderful home. After daughter Jennifer was diagnosed with an intellectual disability, Nancy was one of the co-founders of East Side Ministry, a Sunday School program for those with developmental disabilities that continues to this day. Nancy was also Director of Religious Education at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, East Cleveland, OH, and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, OH.

In the mid-1970s, during the time of the irregular ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven (the first women ordained by Episcopal bishops, though not fully acknowledged by the Church until 1976), Nancy discerned a call to the priesthood. She then began a journey that would take nearly 15 years. In 1980, while continuing to raise a family, Nancy began attending St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. As part of her studies, she spent a year at General Theological Seminary in New York, New York, where she received her Certificate of Anglican Studies in 1987. In 1988, she received her Master of Divinity—only the second female, non-Roman, and married person to do so from St. Mary’s.

Nancy was ordained transitional deacon in June of 1988. And finally, on June 2, 1989, she was ordained to the priesthood by the Episcopal Church. She served in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio as Interim Clergy in several parishes before her retirement. During this time, she also developed and led spiritual growth programs both for the Diocese and with the Dayspring Center for Spirituality.

Nancy loved spending time with family, reading, Jungian Dream Work, and Energy healing.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 10, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 48115), The Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly celebrating and The Rev. Canon Adrienne Koch preaching.

Memorial donations can be made to The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio (www.dohio.org), New Avenues to Independence, Inc. (www.newavenues.net), or North Coast Community Homes (ncch.org).