Nancy Dalton

We are saddened to share the passing of Nancy Louise Bell Dalton, 64, on Tuesday, June 21st, 2022, in Denver, CO, from natural causes after a long battle with many chronic health conditions. Nancy was born on July 6th, 1957, in Brush, CO to parents John Edward Bell and Margaret Frances (Hinds) Bell. The family moved to Denver in 1963. Nancy was educated at St. Louis School and St. Mary’s Academy, class of 1975, in Englewood, CO. She received her BA in Theology and English from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico, graduating magna cum laude in 1979.

Nancy had a gift for the English language that led her to be an award-winning poet and an accomplished writer. She was an avid, inveterate reader of every genre her whole life - rarely meeting a book she didn’t want to read. In fact, the family once found one hundred books under her bed!

Nancy influenced hundreds of young people through teaching at St. Mary’s Academy and St. Louis School; guiding youth groups at her local parish; involvement with the Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Services program; serving as a leader in the Great Books program; leading her son’s cub scout troops; and many other activities. She encouraged a love of learning in all those whom she touched. She was always quick with a kind word of comfort that was symbolic of her deep empathy for her family members, a friend or a complete stranger.

Her love of books led her to a 30-plus year career in the book industry. She worked as everything from a retail book seller at several area bookstores to a buyer at The Tattered Cover in Denver to a wholesale book account manager for Baker and Taylor, responsible for the western United States. Along the way she acquired enough books and bookshelves to fill a small library and lived by the motto, “books are our friends!” One niece remarked, “The last book you gave me was … ‘The Edge of Darkness’ and it's about a community mourning their matriarch and coming together for her funeral. It’s so fitting that it was the last book you gave me and that you happened to pass away on the summer solstice, because my dear Aunt Nancy, you are most definitely a bright and long-lasting ray of sunshine in my life. Reading gave me peace, healing, joy, and sadness. You gave me those things too. Thank you for living life with me, you will always be a light for me at the edge of darkness.”

Nancy’s proudest achievement in life was her son, Ian. She instilled in him a deep love of family, a responsibility to help those in need, a love of learning, and a wicked sense of humor. Nancy and Ian shared a love for historical dramas, cooking shows, and travel. Her entire family is inspired by the selflessness of his caregiving for his mother for many years.

Nancy was an aunt and great aunt, proud and always encouraging a love of learning, reading, activism, and self-determination.  One of her nieces noted that, “Nancy encouraged and fostered our creativity and imagination through joining in the many make-believe games, adding story lines. And she always told us to pursue our passion in whatever we loved, and who cares what anyone else thought.” Another niece observed, “You were my first hair salon … My first musical. My first everything-filled-with-magic in my childhood. That’s what an aunt should be. And lord knows you were. You taught me the joy of friends I’d find in literature … you are the reason I want to leave an imprint on my nieces’ lives bigger than me. She leaves all of them a small and beautiful piece of herself.

Nancy struggled for many years with multiple health issues that took so much from her physically but never broke her joyful spirit, her deep faith, generosity, and love of laughter. We thank the many doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers that helped her navigate all the challenges - especially the nurses and technicians at Davita. She served as an example of strength and perseverance in the face of adversity to her family and many friends.

Nancy is survived by her son Ian Dalton of Denver; siblings: Cathy Bell Darnell of Denver, Larry Bell of Littleton, and John (Cindy) Bell of Seattle, WA; nieces: Molly Darnell, Breanne (Evan) Davis, Corinne (Simon) Zinkevicius all of the Denver Metro area, Christine (Shawn) Dove of Seattle, Mary Bell of Springfield, OR and Caitlin (Chad) Williams of Denver; great nieces and nephews: Samuel Bell of Durango, Ashley, Seth and Juliette Dove of Seattle, Charlotte and Emilia Zinkevicius of Denver; as well as numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard Bell, and grandparents.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, July 6th, 2022, at 1:00 pm at St. Louis Catholic Church, 3301 S Sherman St, Englewood, Colorado 80113.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to The American Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice that serves women or the care of our earth.