Nancy Belle Griffin

December 27, 1927 - January 27, 2018

Nancy Belle Griffin passed away peacefully in Napa on January 27, 2018. In her final days she was surrounded by her family, who only one month before had gathered to celebrate the milestone of her ninetieth birthday. Nancy passed away due to natural causes. She was born in Los Angeles in 1927 to William and Mary Aretha (Jones) Battersby. She graduated from USC in 1947 and then married Philip Gregg Griffin in 1952. Their marriage of over 50 years was cut short by Phils passing in 2005 from Parkinsons disease. They raised four children in Novato, CA. After Phils passing, Nancy moved to American Canyon to be closer to family. In addition to raising her children, whom Nancy often referred to as her greatest accomplishments, she worked first as an elementary school teacher and in later life as a medical assistant in Novato, CA. She and Phil were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Novato and found great joy and support in that community. Nancy was intelligent, witty, and devoted to her family. She loved to travel. She and Phil cruised the world, always coming home to spend time in their garden.. She loved fine art, champagne, pizza, beer, and See's candy. She lived for musicals, the Giants, the Warriors, and the Trojans. Nancy had a special way of engaging with people. As one of her friends recently said, Nancy never met a stranger. She is survived by her children Greg (Nancy) Griffin, Carol (Mark) Aires, Laura (Bob) Priolo, and Chris (Don Matthews) Griffin, her grandchildren Patrick (Lauren Cadish) Griffin, Julia (Tom) Parisi, Ashley and Erik Aires, Alyson (Astin) Sparks, Andrew Priolo, Chris Matthews, and her great-grandchildren Ari Philip Griffin, Margo Lee Parisi, Tyler Trevon Baez, and Jacob Taylor Matthews.