Nancy Meinerth French of Piermont, New Hampshire, died on Wednesday, January 3, 2024,
at Cottage Hospital, Woodsville, NH, after a recent decline in her health. She was 85.

Nancy was born May 16, 1938, at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, MA, to Benjamin Meinerth and Lucille Drew Meinerth. She grew up in West Yarmouth, MA, and graduated from Yarmouth High School. She later moved to Dennisport with her former husband, Lee Mason (deceased), where they raised a busy family of six children.

She loved vegetable gardening, canning for winter (and to sell in the front yard) and walks with the kids on West Dennis Beach. She knew all the secret spots for beach plums and bottle dumps on Cape Cod. Nancy was always a dog-lover, especially her sweet dog Babe, but much later in life developed a first-time-ever affection for cats and took in two beautiful strays that were living in their shed.

A passionate antique collector and dealer for most of her life, Nancy had several popular shops on Cape Cod:  Nancy's Folly in West Dennis, The Packrat Antiques, and 608 Antiques in Dennis Village. Many friends were made over the years through her shops and while buying and selling at flea markets.

After countless buying trips up in New Hampshire and for favorite antique auctions (including Archie Steenburgh's), she and former partner Clarke "Packrat" Potter (deceased) decided to move their life and business up to the source, The White Mountains. They moved to Lisbon, NH, in 1981.

Decades later, at an antique auction, Nancy spotted a real treasure, Edward French. In 2002, Nancy married Ed, with whom she enjoyed living in a cabin on a mountain, working a small farm raising goats and chickens, selling their maple syrup, eggs, and blueberries. Nancy was always one of the most resourceful, hard-working, and self-sufficient people you'd ever meet. She met her match in Ed.

Nancy's life story was full of interesting chapters, some of which would be worthy of a best-seller. She will be missed tremendously by those who love her.

Nancy is survived by her husband of twenty-one years, Edward French of Piermont, NH; her sister, Sheila Wilkerson of Roseville, CA; her daughters, Stephanie Sullivan (Michael) of Bethlehem, NH, and Tracey Hayes of North Woodstock, NH; her sons, David Mason (Amy) of Brewster, MA, Dana Mason (Mary) of Poulsbo, WA, and James Mason (Penny) of Lisbon, NH; and son-in-law, Randy Latulippe of Rumney, NH. Recently predeceased by beloved daughter Kellie Latulippe of Rumney.

Nancy had twelve grandchildren and adored them all: Misty Coote (Tim), Season Sullivan, Autumn DeMoranville (Alan), Katie Kenison (Matthew), Lisa Dufresne (Jacob), Benji Mason, Sam Mason, Tom Mason, Jamie Mason, Brandon Mason, Hannah Latuilppe, as well as twelve great-grandchildren Makenzie Coote, Emma Coote, Jack DeMoranville, Ryan DeMoranville, Nathan Kenison, Lee Kenison, Brett Kenison, Wyatt Dufresne, Montgomery Wilson, Jack McLain, Quinne McLain, and Sophia Chamberlin Mason. She was predeceased by dear granddaughter Molly McLain.

The family will celebrate Nancy's life privately on Cape Cod and in New Hampshire.