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We celebrate the life of Nancy Tang Francis, age 84, loving wife, mother, daughter and sister, who lived a full and wonderful life with her family and friends in both the Far East and her adopted country of the United States. She passed away from complications of stroke at her residence in Palo Alto on July 8, 2020. Nancy was surrounded by her children, friends and caretakers during her final days. She was born Nancy Tse-Yuin Tang, on March 21, 1936 in Wuxi, China, to her parents Kin May Tang and Pin Yuan Tang. She had 4 brothers: Jack, Michael, Victor and Oscar, and a sister Constance. Her family resided in Wuxi until the outbreak of World War II, when the family moved to Shanghai. There she lived for several years until her family moved to Hong Kong. Believing that a formal education was essential, her parents sent her to the United States with her younger brother Oscar to attend St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont. Following high school graduation, she attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, but after a year moved to a more exciting undergraduate experience at the University of California, Berkeley. Living at International House, she met the love of her life, Arthur Berrill Francis, a graduate student in physics from Kansas. Arthur knew what he wanted and informed the social butterfly that he was ready to commit to a life together. Art and "Punkin" were married on September 18, 1957 in Los Altos, California. Nancy graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Spanish language, and was hired as a business language translator. Soon thereafter, she obtained her teaching credential and became an elementary school teacher. While she enjoyed responsibility of teaching young children she was excited to start a family of her own. Her wishes came true on July 17, 1963, when she gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Sabrina Leslie Francis (whom she nicknamed Bibi), and Nancy became a full-time mother. The young parents enjoyed raising their baby girl for several years in Los Altos Hills, CA. Arthur’s business eventually transplanted the family to the Far East, where they were reunited with her parents and brother Jack in Hong Kong. Here they gave birth to their second child, a boy named Brian Alan Francis (whom she nicknamed Wiwi -pronounced yy not weewee ;-), on December 27, 1966. Following a brief time in Singapore, the family returned to Hong Kong where Arthur started a joint venture with her family in the metals manufacturing business. Life soon settled into a familiar and satisfying pattern, with Arthur and Nancy happily raising their children and enjoying such pastimes as horseback riding, boating and playing tennis. In 1980, missing California, the family moved back to Los Altos to put permanent roots in the Bay Area. After her children graduated from college, Nancy and Art again settled into a happy home life in Atherton, CA, where they tended a garden and orchard (#squirrelwars), took up biking, continued to play tennis, and enjoyed the outdoors. Nancy was an expert in cultivating orchids, and was often seen in her greenhouse tending to friends’ sick plants, cross breeding new strains and contributing to the Peninsula Orchid Society shows. They enjoyed traveling, and went on many trips with their children, siblings and friends. Some favorite memories were bicycling in France, touring the beautiful castle gardens and having picnics in the countryside. Sadly, it was on one of these trips that Arthur was taken from her at too young of an age in 2001. Meanwhile, Sabrina had married Martin Hodgett and Brian married Kelly Mero, and began to have children of their own. Nancy was "Mammie" to Clayton and Arthur Hodgett and “Nana” to Brandon, Nathan and Nolan Francis. She took great pride in watching her children and grandchildren grow, and felt that her life was fulfilled. After Arthur’s passing, Nancy’s life was never the same, but she enjoyed visiting and traveling with Jack, Michael, Connie and Oscar and attending growing family reunions. She also appreciated the kindness and company of her many friends, including Bruce Evans, her frequent companion. During her later years, Nancy enjoyed bicycle rides with her “Biker Gang”, Chinese food runs, trips to Gamble House Gardens, winning at Mah Jong and socializing with her friends at the Vi. She is survived by her children Sabrina and Brian, her grandchildren Clayton, Arthur, Brandon, Nathan and Nolan, and her siblings Constance Fong and Oscar Tang. Nancy lived a wonderful and fulfilling life, and left this world in peace and happiness to join Arthur and her family in eternity.






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