Obituary for Nancy-Dawn Patterson Clark

Nancy-Dawn Patterson Clark died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family on June 29, 2023

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on August 20. 1969, Nancy-Dawn lived courageously and with determination. From birth she was afflicted with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a very rare progressive genetic disorder that affects mobility. Although quiet and reserved in nature, she was determined not to let that diagnosis control her. She excelled at living and learning, graduating from Mount Holyoke College and then getting her Masters in French Translation from the Universite de Montreal, after which she spent many years as a French-to-English translator. Having a wandering spirit, she studied in France and Switzerland, travelling to many of the most beautiful parts of Europe. She was even on hand when the Berlin Wall came down, chiseling pieces off and keeping them as a personal treasure. She also travelled to Australia, and Mexico, visited the Jung Frau in Switzerland, bought Florentine paper in Florence, climbed Mt. Evans in Colorado, enjoyed visits to the Atlantic Ocean (Nova Scotia) and saw the Pacific from both sides. Nancy-Dawn also served her church faithfully as a Sunday School teacher, nursery worker, and a volunteer at the church preschool. She was winning the battle against Spinal Muscular Atrophy through recent medical breakthroughs when she was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor that progressed to a glioblastoma multiforme. Despite this, she still travelled to see the Grand Canyon and then San Francisco. She fought that disease brilliantly, living longer than most with her particular diagnosis. She was quite simply an inspiration to all who knew her. She loved her husband, children, and her family deeply.

She is survived by her parents Donald and Janet Patterson, her husband of 27 years Ralph Clark, her daughters Justine Clark and Lija Kaleps-Clark (husband Brian Noethlich, grandson Atis, and another on the way), her sons Colin Clark and Aris Kaleps-Clark, partner Laith Nuqul, her sister April (Michael) Babb and her children Logan, London, and Luke, her Aunt Colleen (Slavko) Begic, her Aunt Nancy (Dr. Julio) Sosa and her daughter, Dr. Julie Ann Sosa and partner Dr. Sanziana Roman.

A Celebration of Her life and interment (followed by a reception) will be held at 11 AM at Central College Presbyterian Church in Westerville, Ohio on Saturday August 5, 2023, at Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 S. Sunbury Rd. Westerville, Ohio 43081. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nancy-Dawn’s honor to either of the following: Central College Presbyterian Church (PCUSA):

In the memory or honor of “Nancy-Dawn Clark Memorial Education Fund” at https://www.ccpc.us/giving The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at https://cancer.osu.edu/for-donors-and-volunteers/how-to-donate/donate-by-cancer-type