Nancy Jane (Bowden) Lewis, age 73, passed away peacefully at Chester County Hospital in the early hours of December 27, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Nancy lived in Delaware County, PA for many years and had been a resident of West Chester, PA for over 20 years. Nancy grew up in Eddystone, PA and was a graduate of Eddystone High School. She always looked back fondly on her high school days. She was active in cheerleading (co-captain), basketball, field hockey, and she was on the Homecoming Court. She was inseparable from her best and lifelong friend, Bonnie O'Brien, who lived across the street from Nancy on Toll Street. Nancy and Bonnie met when they were five years old.

Nancy married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Whiteman, shortly after high school, and they were together for 15 years. While they could not make their marriage work, they created together a legacy of children and grandchildren, whom they were both very proud of and loved dearly. Nancy and Bob came together again through their grandchildren and would later help each other through difficult health challenges. Nancy was at Bob's side after his sudden stroke and was there for him and their children until Bob's passing in 2011; and, all the while she was also going through her own serious health issues.

Nancy married William T. Lewis in 1987. They were married for 12 years until his passing in 1999 after a sudden illness. Bill and Nancy were a perfect match. She has missed him every day for the last 21 years. They enjoyed traveling together, especially going on cruises and to the islands, going to Ocean City, Maryland and riding their bikes along the Coastal Highway, eating good food, especially seafood, going to the the casino, playing cards (Pinochle), and watching football while hosting weekly Sunday dinners for Nancy's parents.  Nancy and Bill enjoyed getting dressed up and going out dancing. They are together now; and, Nancy is wearing a beautiful gown and her high heels, Bill is in a tuxedo, and they are dancing to their favorite songs in each other's embrace.

Nancy enjoyed bowling and she bowled in many leagues throughout the years. She was a good bowler. She also had a creative side and could crochet, knit, paint ceramics and could figure out how to assemble almost anything. She was good at puzzling and was a fierce competitor in Scrabble. She loved her pets, her dog, Lilly and her cat Domino.

Nancy worked in the medical field most of her work life as an office manager and also performed direct care on patients as a technician. Nancy would later transition to the legal field as a legal assistant, shortly before she retired due to chronic illness.

Nancy became a Catholic later in life in 2005. She has been a member of Saints Philip and James Church for over 16 years. God and the people of SSPJ Church were such a source of comfort, hope, and strength to her when she was waiting for a lung transplant and battling illness over the years. Nancy enjoyed meeting with her friends in the Bible Study group and  appreciated the many friends she made through "Helping Hands."

In March 2012, Nancy was the recipient of a lung transplant. Defying the odds, she lived long enough to have the transplant surgery. In 2009, she became critically ill and was on a ventilator in the ICU for 10 days.  She was not expected to survive. She fought to come back to her family and she did. She would go on to have the transplant 2 years later. She would have celebrated the 10 year anniversary of her lung transplant on March 19, 2022. This gift of life gave Nancy more precious time to be with her family and loved ones, watching her precious grandchildren grow up and celebrating many milestones with them. Nancy and her family will forever be grateful to the person who donated their lung, and their family, so that another could live.

Nancy loved spending time with her loved ones and we loved her very much. She was especially proud of her grandchildren and she was their biggest cheerleader. They were her greatest joy in life.

Nancy is survived by:

Her children, Kimberly (Whiteman) Taylor (William Taylor-spouse) of West Chester, PA and Robert Whiteman, Jr. (Carmen Whiteman - spouse) of Upper Chichester, PA. Her grandchildren, Jensen Taylor, and Samantha and Robert Whiteman. Bonnie O'Brien, her best friend from the age of 5 years old, who was a sister to her and her Aunt Joanne Giles, who was like a sister to her as well.

Nancy is Pre-deceased by her

Husband, Willam T. Lewis Former husband, Robert A. Whiteman, Sr. Parents, Charles and Catherine Bowden

Visitation:  Thursday, December 30, 2021 from 10:30- 12:00 pm at Funeral Home Ltd., 5980 Chichester Ave., Aston, PA. Funeral Service: Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 12:00pm at the Funeral Home. Burial: Edgewood Cemetery, 325 Baltimore Pike, Glen Milles, PA 19342

Condolences www.nolanfidale.com

Service Location Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home Get Directions

Begins: Dec 30, 2021 12:00pm - 12:30pm

5980 Chichester Ave Aston, PA 19014 Cemetery Location Edgewood Memorial Park Get Directions

Dec 30, 2021 12:45pm - 1:00pm

325 Baltimore Pike Glen Mills, PA 19342 Condolences