Nancy Haughey

The Facts

Nancy Haughey, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend, was called home to the Lord on April 13, 2026. Born Anna Maria Glackin in December 1930 to Peggy (née Margaret Scullin) and Edward J Glackin of Philadelphia, she was the third of their eight children. Nancy graduated from Rosemont College and received a master’s degree in French from the University of Paris. She raised her three children, Joelle, Jimmy, and Caitlin Haughey, in Mountainside, New Jersey, where she became deeply involved in her church and community. For thirty-eight years, she served as the office manager for a medical practice. She remained in the family’s Mountainside home until a few months before her passing. Nancy was predeceased by her parents; her siblings Clare Rowan, Edward Jr., Eileen Schwartz, Joseph, and Gerald; her son, James Patrick Haughey, Jr.; her former husband, James Patrick Haughey; her in-laws, Clement Rowan, Roberta Glackin, Margaret Glackin, John Flanagan, Therese Haughey, Fr. John Haughey, SJ, and Sr. Kathleen Haughey, SND,  She is survived by her sisters, Collette Flanagan and Mary Bernadette Wilcox; her daughters, Joelle (Quin Jarrett) and Caitlin (Michael Albano); her grandchildren, Ciara, Deirdre, Cecilia Albano, and Owen Haughey; her in-laws, Barbara Ann (Bam) Glackin, Eileen Harrington, Sr. Isabel Haughey, OSF, and Daniel Haughey; and 50 nieces and nephews, along with their spouses and children, and many, many cherished friends.

Nancy’s Story - So Much More Than The Facts

Nancy grew up in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia and spent carefree summers with her family in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Even as a young woman, she stood out- chosen from more than 700 graduates to be the valedictory speaker at her graduation from Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, she delivered a speech in Philadelphia’s Convention Hall, Quite a feat to be heard in that cavernous room without a microphone! She headed off to college with excitement and confidence, and a partial scholarship. 

Nancy described her years at Rosemont College as some of the best of her life. She embraced everything the school had to offer. She held leadership roles, starred in both the Rosemont and Villanova plays, and loved to tell the story of ‘flying’ across the fieldhouse as Peter Pan lifted as her classmates pulled the ropes. She dated, she danced, and, most importantly, made many lifelong friends. She must havesqueezed studying in somewhere since she maintained a very respectable GPA. 

After Rosemont, Nancy taught for a year at West Catholic Girls High School. The students had to walk down the halls in single file against the walls, and the teachers would walk down the middle. Nancy was one of the first lay teachers, and barely older than the students. For the first few weeks of school she was scolded by many of the nuns to get back into line! The next year she spent in Europe, earning her master’s degree at the Sorbonne at the University of Paris, while traveling extensively, a rare opportunity for a young woman in 1953. That year deepened her love of travel and gave her a lifelong openness to new experiences. If you knew Nancy at all, you know she was always up for an adventure!

Upon her return, Nancy worked in the Philadelphia area, including participating in the Campbell’s Soup Company management trainee program, again, unusual for a woman at the time, before moving to New York City to be part of its vibrant energy during the late 1950s.

Nancy loved her years in New York! She loved the excitement, the independence, the clothes, the parties, and the people. Nancy held several professional and management roles, with increasing levels of responsibility. She enjoyed working in the city, not only for the sense of purpose it gave her, but also for the opportunity to dress fashionably (complete with hats! and gloves) and the occasional “martini lunch” with her colleagues. She filled her days, and nights, with friends, laughter, and dancing. Being dressed up and heading to a dance escorted by a tall handsome man was always, to her, one of life’s great pleasures. 

While in New York, she became reacquainted with Jim Haughey, whom she had first met in Philadelphia, and they married in May of 1962. After Joelle was born the following March, Nancy was determined that life with a baby could remain lively, and so it did! She and Jim, with baby Joelle in tow, continued to enjoy a fun and active social life in Manhattan. After Jimmy came along, they moved to Larchmont, in Westchester County, to provide a suburban environment for their children. Caitlin was born while they were living in Larchmont, but Jim’s job then brought the family to New Jersey. Settling in Mountainside turned out to be a wonderful choice for Nancy and the whole family. Starting with the Newcomers Club, and their parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, Nancy formed many enduring friendships that lasted throughout her life.

As a stay-at-home mom, Nancy was deeply involved in the PTA, and at Our Lady of Lourdes. She also ran the Beechwood School Library volunteer program, was Chairperson of The Bestowers’ fund-raising organization, initiated and organized Mountainside’s “Safe Rides”, was a Eucharistic Minister, and much more! She devoted much of her time and energy to her friends and cared for them deeply, as they did for her. She prided herself on being a ‘good listener,’ especially when her children would groan and complain about waiting for her to finish talking after church she would always reply, “I was just listening!”

At the age of 50, Nancy returned to the workforce in a busy medical office after nearly two decades at home. While daunting at first, she didn’t just adjust, she thrived. In typical Nancy fashion, she formed lasting friendships, and became an essential part of the practice, ultimately serving as office manager. She knew all the patients by name, cared about their lives, and made them feel seen. Never a quitter, Nancy continued working until the age of 88!

Becoming a grandmother in 2001 brought Nancy great joy. She proudly became “Mimi” because she was too cool to be Grandma! She adored her grandchildren: Ciara, Deirdre, Cecilia and Owen, and delighted in watching them grow, encouraging them to try new things and supporting all their endeavors.  

Nancy also knew loss, including the devastating death of her only son, Jimmy, in early 2019. At that time, as throughout her life, Nancy relied on her steadfast Catholic faith.  Her religion was always central to her identity; God and Jesus were a natural part of everyday life and conversation. Prayer bookended her days, she attended Mass faithfully, prayed the rosary, spent time each week in Eucharistic adoration, and cherished praying with her friends at the “Gathering of Women”. 

As one of 8 children in a close-knit Irish-Catholic family, Nancy was part of a very large and lively extended family. What began as holiday gatherings with her siblings and their spouses grew into christening parties, then annual reunions, and eventually wonderful wedding celebrations that brought generations of the family together, and where Aunt Nancy always donned the perfect hat! 

And then there was the dancing!   Nancy’s brother Ed first taught her how to dance in their dining room, "with the rug rolled up” and he forever remained one of her favorite partners. She loved to dance and she was great at it! She rarely left the dance floor at weddings or parties. Many nieces and nephews fondly remember her dancing the “Mummers Strut” with her brother Gerry, and friends remember her “Irish Jig” at every St. Patrick’s Day party.  

Mimi was always on the go, often exhausting people half her age. A true extrovert, she was energized by people – by conversation, laughter and shared moments. She loved being with friends, traveling, shopping, and dining out, and spending time in Sea Isle, especially when surrounded by her nieces and nephews! 

Lovingly dubbed ‘Fancy Nancy’ by friends, and even by the aides in the assisted living facility where she spent her last few months, she took great joy in looking her best. She wouldn’t even go to the mailbox without her hair done and “face on.”  She had a great sense of style, loved clothes, and especially loved a good bargain!  Her many closets were full, yet she could recount where she bought each item, what she paid (usually under $20) and when she wore it. (She could also remember what everyone else wore!) She had a gift for making even decades-old clothing look stylish and chic. Dressing well wasn’t just something she enjoyed, it was part of who she was. 

We are confident that Nancy was met at the pearly gates with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and ushered into a joyful gathering of dancing, laughter and music, filled with friends and family, right where she belongs.  

Please join us in celebrating the full and vibrant life Mimi lived, the many lives she touched, and the joy she brought. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 8 from 4-8 pm at Higgins and Bonner, 582 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, NJ, 07090. The Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, May 9, at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes, 300 Central Ave Mountainside, NJ, 07092. We invite you to wear your fanciest hat in her honor!  We look forward to hearing your favorite stories of Aunt Nancy, Nance, Fancy Nancy - our beloved Mimi. 

"In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Nancy’s name to either:

The Poor Clares: “Monastery of St. Clare, 1271 Langhorne Newtown Road, Langhorne, PA 19047-1297 (The Glackins have been contributing to The Poor Clares for over 100 years, since Nancy’s father, a ‘butter and egg man’ started donating their dairy and eggs as a young man.)

Grace Hospice: “Grace Healthcare Services, 105 Fieldcrest Ave, Suite 402, Edison, NJ 08837”.  Although our interaction with Grace Hospice was short, the compassion and loving care provided by their nurses in the final days of Nancy's life was invaluable. "