Nancy H. Milani

Nancy Hayward Milani, 81, passed away November 9, 2019 at The Brandley Hospice House after a brief illness. The daughter of the late Charles and Margaret Hayward, Nancy was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and was raised there and York, Maine. Nancy was an honors graduate of York High School. She attended the University of Maine and the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and was a graduate of the University of Michigan Real Estate Institute. Nancy had a variety of careers; she was a histologist at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, a legislative assistant at the New York State Assembly, a kindergarten teacher, and she was the first female supervisor at Addressograph-Multigraph. She found her true vocation when she began selling real estate in the early 1970's. During a career that spanned over 30 years, she co-founded a real estate brokerage and building company in Plainwell, Michigan and co-founded Points East Properties in York, Maine. She served on numerous professional real estate boards and committees, and was the first woman to be appointed to the Michigan Real Estate Board of Arbitration. After retiring from real estate, she co-owned and operated The Oracle House Inn at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Nancy had a passion for politics and served as a campaign manager/consultant for several Congressional campaigns. She coordinated and hosted fundraising events for candidates, including President George H. W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Governor John McKernan. She was the former Chairman of the York Republican Committee, Chairman of the York County Republican Committee, and Maine State Republican Committee member. She served as the President of the Maine State Federation of Republican Women and was the Vice President of the New England Ripon Society. Under Governor Angus King, she served on the Advisory Council for Economic Development in Maine and the Advisory Council for Aging and Retirement in Maine. Nancy was a voracious reader and loved music, dancing, films, theater, family genealogy, and long walks. She was an exceptional public speaker and made friends easily. She had a wicked sense of humor and was very artistic. A granddaughter of an Irish immigrant, she spent a wonderful year traveling throughout Ireland visiting family members. She lived her later years in Eastport, Maine and recently relocated to The Villages, Florida. She was devoted to her family and she will be dearly missed by all who loved her. She leaves behind her beloved family: her children, Christopher Milani (Kim) of Plainwell, Michigan, Kimberly Milani Crisp of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kristen "Cricket" Mullaney (Brian) of Belmont, Massachusetts; her grandchildren, Christopher II and Joshua (Ashley) Milani, Aidan and Samuel Crisp, and Maura, Charles, and Quinn Mullaney; her great-grandchildren, Lexus, Kaitlyn, and Easton Milani; and her brothers, Charles "Chilla" Hayward, Jr. (Judy) of Dayton, Maine and Michael Hayward (Margaret) of Falmouth, Maine. She will be lovingly remembered by her extended family of nephews, nieces, and cousins and a large circle of friends, including her boyfriend, Lester Jones of The Villages, Florida. Along with her parents, Nancy was predeceased by her former husband, Donald Milani, and her sister, Patricia Hayward LaGuardia. A Celebration of Nancy's life will be held in the summer of 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to The O'Leary Foundation, PO Box 64, Richland, Michigan 49083, O'LearyFoundation.com. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Lady Lake, FL.

Nancy H. Milani

October 17, 1938 - November 9, 2019