Nancy L. Vorhauer

On August 15, 2021, at the wonderful age of 81, Nancy Vorhauer (nee Badertscher) wrapped up her final chapter here and moved on to grand new adventures. She never set foot on a plane so hopefully now she’s traveling wherever she wants, whenever she wants for free! (She always wanted to go to Paris, I bet we could find her there right now.)

As an EMT and then a short stint as the third female firefighter in the State of New Jersey, she defied the careers pre-prescribed for her. (She went to Secretary school. It was not for her!) As a firefighter standing just around 5 feet, she had to buy flannel lined jeans from L.L. Bean to wear in fires because there was no gear made for such a petite fighter. Backdraft always made her cringe and brought back memories, so more lighthearted movies like E.T. and A Christmas Story became favorites in her house.

Leaving the stressful and dangerous firefighting life behind, Nancy took an interest in scientific glassblowing (the only person we know who could make a beaker) but it didn’t take long before she transformed her technical glass working skill into art. Nancy became known as “The Marble Lady” to those who frequented WheatonArts (Wheaton Village) in the 1990’s. She found making marbles was a beautiful dance of combining art with technical talent to bring together colors, patterns, and new techniques making every sphere a unique work of art. She would say, “you can look at a marble one way, but when you look at it from another angle, you learn so much more about it and find a new way to appreciate it.” Yes, she used anecdotes about marbles to teach life lessons for how we should appreciate people. Heralded as works of art to be adorned by collectors, she would put her marbles in kids’ hands, saying, “go ahead, go on and play!” (Parents would gasp as they saw her art between their kid’s knuckles being shot around on the cement floors at Wheaton in a game of marbles. Nancy loved it!)

If she hadn’t been a glass artist, her other dream was to be a veterinarian. She adored all animals – from horses, cats, and dogs, to the doves, ferrets, and squirrels she fostered at home until they were healthy enough to return to the wild. They say animals can sense a person’s character. We never saw an animal shy away from Nancy’s embrace.

After WheatonArts, her heart of service led her to become a Master Gardener. She spent many hours in the community garden in Millville, NJ, and on farms picking vegetables (often peppers) for food banks. In her later years, she befriended NJ Transit bus drivers on the Philly and Atlantic City routes. While many people flock to Atlantic City for the casinos, it was the beach, art, and people watching that drew her there. You might have seen her wandering the boardwalk, taking in a slice of pizza, and smiling and talking to anyone who remotely looked in her direction.

She was determined to soak up as much time here as she could. She survived being hit by a van while walking across the street, a knee replacement, later on a broken hip, fractured rib (twice), and dementia. We’re pretty sure that she was actually made of superhero steel under her small but mighty frame. (But when asked she wouldn’t say!)

Nancy’s husband, Roland Vorhauer, and her sister Betty Williams, precede her in death. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Robertson (John) and Jacqueline Vorhauer (Ben). Nancy is, and always will be, mom to Liz and Jackie. One of her greatest strengths was pushing her daughters to be thoughtful, caring, determined, artistic, and outspoken people. And, she got to be Grandma for a few years. It was clear at their first meeting that she and her young grandson, Dean, share a special connection. He was able to make her light up and smile on her most challenging days – whether it was in person or zoom.

Instead of an in-person service, we ask you to celebrate Nancy by…

• Wearing the brightest, happiest colors you can. As a glass artist, she loved bringing fun color combinations to the world. So pick a day and break out that bright yellow shirt you’ve been hesitant to wear.

• Savoring one (or all) of her favorite desserts. You get points if it’s preceded with a piece of extra cheesy South Jersey pizza. Mom loved…black and white malted milkshakes, black raspberry ice cream or watermelon sherbet from Friendly’s, rainbow sherbet, strawberry shortcake, pumpkin pie with a lot of whipped cream and, a great root beer float. “Mmm, yum!” she’d say. So please raise a dessert spoon to mom’s sweet tooth.

• Sharing kindness with the world. Think of an act of kindness that makes you go a little out of your way for the good of another person. Mom shared her compassion and empathy for people experiencing homelessness with her daughters. To this day, her daughters often carry food, water, hand warmers, and hygiene items in their cars to share with anyone who needs it. Maybe you want to help your elderly neighbor with their lawn, or you can deliver groceries to a friend. Please keep Nancy’s spirit alive by sharing that kindness.

• Take a few minutes and learn about the National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood, NJ. She was asked to have her marbles photographed for books about marbles (seriously) and was asked by many for her to sell more of her work, but her humble self often spent that time giving her art away and talking to kids about the game rather than promoting her amazing work. She loved watching the tournament in Wildwood knowing her art was based on a game that inspired focus and joy and was accessible to anyone of any income level.

• Wear a mask, get vaccinated if you can, and care about the well-being of others. COVID shaved some time off her life, and so she needs you to be kind, be thoughtful, and then celebrate and live your life to the fullest for her!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Pennsylvania Memory Center to advance dementia research – you can give in memory of Nancy Vorhauer. Or you may choose to give to WheatonArts – under “If you have a special purpose for your donation,” you can write, “In memory of Nancy Vorhauer, The Marble Lady!”

She’ll always be with us in her art, the way she challenged us to think, and the lessons she shared. Thank you for being a part of her journey!

B&W Photo by daughter Liz Robertson, the way Nancy would want to be remembered.