Nancy V. (McIntosh) Bordeleau

Nancy Vivian (McIntosh) Bordeleau, 89, of Cranston, peacefully passed away November 19, 2023, at Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cranston. She was the beloved wife of the late Roland J. Bordeleau. Born in Boston, MA, she was the daughter of the late Edmund and Dorothy (Goldstein) McIntosh. Nancy was predeceased by her brothers John (Jack) McIntosh and Ronald McIntosh.

Nancy is survived by three children; John M. Bordeleau and his wife Suzanne O’Shea of Cranston, Dr. Lisa M. Bordeleau and her husband John T. Endler of North Attleborough, MA, and Meshell D. Bordeleau of Lanesborough, MA; five grandchildren; Christopher John (CJ) Bordeleau (Jessica), Ian Endler Bordeleau, Meaghan Endler Bordeleau (Brendan Courtney), Dillon Thomas Bordeleau, and Aidan Patrick Bordeleau; and two great-grandchildren; Sienna Catherine Bordeleau and Gabriel Roland Bordeleau. Nancy also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews.

A 1951 graduate of Cranston High School, Nancy distinguished herself in her professional career as an educator, administrator and executive in municipal and state government. Nancy graduated from Rhode Island School of Education (now Rhode Island College) in 1955 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Upon graduation, she was appointed to the faculty of Hugh B. Bain Junior High School where she taught English and Social Studies until she became pregnant with her first child as women had to leave their jobs when pregnant at that time. 

In 1957, Nancy became a Social Caseworker with the RI Department of Social Welfare and in 1966 was appointed as the Director of Public Welfare for the City of Cranston. She was the first woman to hold this position.  While serving in this demanding administrative position, Nancy matriculated in a graduate program at Bryant College (now Bryant University) and received a Master’s of Business Administration with honors in 1985. On January 1, 1985, Nancy was selected to be the Director of the Department of Human Services for the State of Rhode Island. This was a cabinet level position with a staff of over 1500, and a department budget exceeding 500 million dollars annually.  In 1990, after retiring from her State position, Nancy became President for Optima Consultants, a human services consulting firm. 

Nancy’s many professional associations included: the Board of Directors of the Greater Providence YMCA, Board of Directors of South Providence Neighborhood Ministries, Member of Diocesan Task Force on the Elderly, Member of the Governor’s Schools Task Force,  Member of National Conference of Christians and Jews, Member of the Cranston Historical Society, Member of the Corporation of Visiting Nurse Association of Providence, North Providence, and Johnston, and Executive Board Member of the National Council of State Human Services Administrators.

Nancy was also Founder and first President of Eastman House, served as a Founder and Founding Board Member for the Cranston Community Action Program, CCAP. She was selected as the first President of the Community Mental Health Board and Executive Board member and President of the Rhode Island Directors of Public Welfare Association. She was a charter member of both the Cranston Low Housing, Inc. and the Cranston Day Care Committee Inc. Nancy served for fourteen years as Trustee and Secretary of the Corporation for Butler Hospital. She was very active in the Parents and Teachers Association movement and served as President of the Daniel D. Waterman Schools PTA group, and as the President of the Cranston Council 9 PTA group.

Many prestigious honors and awards were bestowed upon Nancy. They include: the President’s Award by American Welfare Association, named “Woman of the Year” by the Cranston Professional and Business Women’s Club, and awarded the “Henry Toll Fellow” by the Council of State Government, Lexington, Kentucky, and was also commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the Women Governor of Kentucky. Her honors also include: named to “Who’s Who of American Women”, elected to Delta Mu Delta, Alpha Eta Chapter, National Honor Society in Business Administration, and received the “Charles B. Willard Achievement Award” from the Rhode Island College Alumni Association for Professional and Personal Achievements.  Nancy was inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame in 2009.

Aside from an illustrious career, Nancy enjoyed world travel, wintering in Florida, and spending time with, and entertaining, family and dear friends. Nancy was fortunate to have had a circle of exceptional long-term friendships that included Clare and Manny, Marie, Chet and Ruth, Ray and Jane, Eileen, Dick and Lillian, Barbara, Shirley and Addie.

A woman of strong faith, Nancy has been a lifelong member of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston, where she contributed in innumerable ways, including the Pastoral Relations Committee and serving as Moderator for multiple terms.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service Monday, November 27 at 10 am in Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, Cranston. Nancy will be interred with her beloved husband at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter at 2:00 pm. VISITATION Sunday 4 - 7 pm at "WOODLAWN" Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, 565 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02910 or to the Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman St #306, Providence, RI 02906.

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