Nan Fiedler
June 5, 1938 – April 14, 2024
Nan Fiedler peacefully passed in Weaverville, NC on April 14th, 2024, surrounded by family. Fueled by love of family and friends, she lived most of her 85 years in good health and great spirits.
Nan was born June 5th, 1938, in Springfield, MA, a surprise identical twin sister to Ann, with whom she shared a lifelong inseparable bond and daily communications. The twins, older brother Lawrence, and parents Rose & Ben Zimmerman shared a two-family home with loving grandparents Lena & Hyman Briskin.
Nan graduated from Classical High School in 1956, where she played with her sister on the basketball team, and from UMass Amherst in 1960, with a BA in education. She spent her early professional years as a second-grade teacher in Springfield, where she established her lifelong passion for nurturing children and helping them thrive.
At the introduction of mutual family friends, Nan soon met Floyd Fiedler, a young dentist from the Bronx, NY. The two were wed in 1962, & moved to Poughkeepsie, NY. There, Nan and Floyd raised four sons — Michael, Howard, Charles, & Alan — who spanned seven years in age and provided a great source of pride, joy, and close connection.
Nan was highly involved in the boys’ Poughkeepsie travel soccer club, arranging endless carpools and phone chains for soccer as well as for Hebrew school, Sunday school, baseball, and more. After becoming an empty nester, Nan transformed part of her home and backyard into an enriching and loving daycare, full of indoor and outdoor activities.
After 35 wonderful years of life and lifelong friendships forged in Poughkeepsie, Nan and Floyd moved to the warmer climes of Boca Raton. There, Floyd relished retirement and Nan was hired at a Jewish daycare, where she adored (and was adored by) the children and young families with whom she worked. The Fiedlers enjoyed frequent visits from their children and grandchildren, who were by then spread across the country and globe.
Following Floyd’s passing in January 2007, Nan continued living in Boca for the next 10 years, prior to moving to Weaverville, NC to be near family in neighboring Asheville.
Nan made all feel welcome who came into her sphere and home, and many to this day fondly refer to her as their second mom. Nicknamed “Sweetie,” she was sweet, selfless, full of boundless energy and verve, a radiant presence in the lives of all who knew her.
Nan is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Shiori Fiedler of Palisades Park, NJ; Howard and Barb Fiedler of Asheville, NC; Charles and Lisa Fiedler of Coon Rapids, MN; and Alan and Yukie Fiedler of Osaka, Japan; as well as her six grandchildren — Ben, Madison, Matthew, Molly, Kelly, and Melissa Fiedler.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 10:00 am at Parmele Funeral home, 110 Fulton Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY, followed by a brief service at nearby Temple Beth-El Cemetery, Route 44, Poughkeepsie, where Nan will be laid to rest beside husband Floyd Fiedler.
Memorial donations may be made to the World Literacy Foundation.
