Thelma (Penny) J. (Nance) Fancher

Thelma J. Fancher, lovingly known as Penny, passed away among family at Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of Rhode Island on January 4,2018.

Thelma was born on August 15, 1956 to her parents, the late, Annie Lee Nance and Leon Benton Sr. in Providence, RI.

Penny grew up very close to her siblings James Walker, Ruth, Thomas, Robert, Ronald, Connie and Pat Nance & James Madison, Lawrence Joseph, Roosevelt (Bells), Forrest ,Kevin, John and Leon Benton.

She graduated from Central High School and embarked on a career in the US Army as a weapons specialist. Always very proud of her service, she was honorably discharged from the military in 1984.

“Penny” leaves behind her children Nikki D. Nance-Almeida, Jamal B. Nance, Marcus J. Fancher and Son in Law Bryon Almeida . She will be missed in the lives of her grandchildren Dajann L. Nance, Deantra A.J Nance, Daronn Gomes-Nance, Da’rell Gomes-Nance and Zechariah M. Fancher. She is also preceeded in death by her great-grandson Khordell Vannak Lee-Nance. In addition, countless nieces and nephews, family and friends will all miss “Aunty Penny”.

Always a free spirit ,” Penny” lived in many places throughout her life but always remained true to her roots as a proud African American woman. Wherever she went, she worked and volunteered to help the needy and less fortunate and lived a life that brought her happiness in her own original way.

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