Nancy O. Colby

Nancy O. (Hunnewell) Colby passed peacefully on July 7, 2022, in Danvers, Massachusetts. Born in Lowell, MA, she considered herself a Maine girl who grew up in Lewiston. She was a resident of Medford and Lynnfield, MA where she was co-principal of Colby Properties Residential Real Estate.

She was predeceased by her parents Donald and Ora Hunnewell, her sister Shirley Scott, Shirley's husband Robert F. Scott, and their son Robert G. Scott. She is survived by her children Karen Colby of Lynnfield (spouse John Nunziato and children Logan and Sloan), Alison Colby-Campbell of Haverhill (spouse Jonathan Campbell and children Hillary, Grace, Nissi, and Leisa), Hollis Colby of Wenham, and Drew Colby of Wellesley (spouse Carol and children Meaghan and husband Johnny, and Hunter).

Nancy was a Registered Nurse who worked in the prestigious Phillips House at Mass General Hospital and was a private nurse for New Hampshire’s Governor Fuller prior to starting her family with Walter R. Colby.  She is remembered as the neighborhood ‘mom’ who acted as confidante and cheerleader for her children and their friends. She began her real estate career when her youngest, Drew, went to school, eventually opening Colby Properties with daughter, Karen. She leaves a real estate legacy where she made lifelong connections and served multiple generations of the same family.

Most noticeably, Nancy’s life revolved around her growing family. She appreciated the many kindnesses extended to her by her sons- and daughter -in-law. Nancy could always count on Carol to be a team player. Years of tech support were provided by Jonathan, while for decades, John helped maintain and repair her many investment properties.

With daughter Hollis she regularly indulged in lunch dates and shared the freshly picked bounty of Hollis’ vegetable garden. Each December she volunteered with Karen at the Old Meeting House Country Store where Colby Properties’ highly anticipated fishing booth attracted generations of Lynnfield kids. Nancy also provided set up assistance before all the family gatherings at Karen’s house. Though she regularly skirted around the group hugs initiated by Meaghan and Hunter, we know she really loved those PDAs and her grandchildren's multiple weekly calls from Colorado. With Drew, she regularly shared a laugh and learned decades later exactly how much he’d gotten away with in high school. Nancy took an avid interest in reading Alison’s newspaper articles and attending Middleton Stream Team and Topsfield Fair awards ceremonies when Alison’s photos took home top honors. She could be seen cruising into Wakefield as a veritable one-woman DoorDash to drop off sushi and assorted lunch boxes for Sloan and Logan. She was instrumental in choreographing the Open House dance the trio performed between showings. 

Nancy will be missed by all.

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