Nancy Dukes, woman of faith
C. Nancy Lee Dukes (née Sheely), 85, of Watauga, Texas, passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov.18, 2023, surrounded by her family after a short and unexpected illness. She was born Nov. 27, 1937, in Baltimore, Md., to Raymond Sheely and Dorothy Graziaplena (née Pruchniewski).
Nancy was a proud graduate of St. Michael’s Business School (Baltimore, Md.) in 1954. She greatly enjoyed being a professional bookkeeper, holding roles at Southland Corp, Rehoboth Bay Marina with her family in Dewey Beach, D F Quillen & Sons Inc., Grand Rental Station in Rehoboth Beach, and lastly, at Briant Hospitality Group in Fort Worth, Texas, until her “final” retirement in 2016.
After raising her four children in Rehoboth Beach, Nancy relocated to North Richland Hills, Texas, in 2005 to be closer to her grandchildren. She was a faithful woman who loved the Lord, her family, friends, and neighbors. Nancy never met a stranger and was known as an exceedingly generous and selfless person. Throughout her life, many of her acquaintances and friends of her children happily called her Mom or Momma and cherished her friendship.
In her free time, Nancy was an avid collector, specializing in Beanie Babies and Barbie dolls, and always looked forward to visiting casinos around the country. She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, and checking in with loved ones both near and far on the phone.
Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Dorothy; stepfather, Frederick Graziaplena; former husband, William Dukes Sr.; and brothers, Frederick Graziaplena Jr. and Raymond Sheely Jr.
She is survived by her four children, William “Bunky” Dukes II and wife Carolle (Naples, Fla.), Barbara “Barbie” Dukes (Watauga, Texas), Briant Dukes and partner Maria “Faby” Hernandez (Long Beach, Miss.), and Patrick Dukes and wife Christina (Omaha, Neb.); three grandchildren, Taylor Dukes and husband Jaiden Lake (Columbia, Mo.), Tyler Dukes and husband Joshua Flores (Fort Worth, Texas), and Hunter Dukes and partner Frankie Stoetzer (Denver, Colo.); brother, Louis Graziaplena (Orlando, Fla.); sister, Maria Milewski (née Graziaplena) (Olney, Md.); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at St. Jude the Apostle, Lewes, with mass beginning at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be held immediately afterward in the parish hall.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.
