Nancy Ellen Quinn Butler passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2026, after 85 years of enthusiastic living, while surrounded by her family. She will always be remembered as a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and great friend. She will be deeply missed.
Nancy was a New Yorker, born in Mercy Hospital in Mineola to Catherine Welch and Thomas Quinn. She grew up in Garden City, N.Y., deeply proud of her Irish heritage and equally proud of her sisters Pat and Kerry, and Chaminade boxing brothers, Tom and Dave. While Nancy didn’t box, she was as tough as they come despite always smiling through those Irish eyes.
In 1958, she graduated from Garden City High School and went off to Immaculata in Washington, D.C. There, at the 1789 Restaurant, she met her future husband and love of her life, Glen William Butler, who was a student at Georgetown University. They were married at Washington National Cathedral on Labor Day weekend in 1964 and were married for 61 years, all of them happy.
Just under 10 months later, the first of four out-of-control boys was born. David was born on July 17, 1965, in Ridgewood, N.J. – just one day before Glen’s birthday. One year later to the day, Danny was born in Syracuse, N.Y., soon followed by Brian on July 17, 1969, in Suffern, N.Y. (Yes, Glen was in sales!) Kevin Quinn Butler was born entirely off schedule in Suffern, N.Y., sometime in October of 1971 – an obvious mistake, given the couple’s unparalleled record of precision birth timing.
Always the best mom, Nancy created the “un-birthday” for Kevin, so he, too, was celebrated on July 17 with friends and an un-birthday cake. She was a professional mom and never missed a game, play, or any event for anyone. She only saw the good things that happened. She relished her role and attacked it daily with bad-for-you snacks other moms wouldn’t serve, self-deprecating jokes, and open invites to everyone’s friends. She was everyone’s mom and everyone’s cheerleader.
After the kids left the house, Nancy channeled her boundless energy into working at Riverside Hospital for the next 26 years, where every blood draw resulted in a new best friend and a hilarious story related to all family members while laughing hysterically. She enjoyed watching her beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish in person and on television, where her high-pitched game time intensity became legendary.
Nancy was a great cook and talented artist. She loved to have people to feed and friends with whom she could share her artwork and custom watercolor note cards. She loved her boys more than anything – other than watching her grandchildren grow into adulthood and become extraordinary people. Her granddaughter, Margot, and Brian recently began setting up an online business to sell those extraordinary watercolor cards.
Nancy is predeceased by son, Daniel William; parents, Catherine and Thomas; brother, David, and wife, Ruth; brother, Thomas; sister, Patricia and husband, Ray Brennan; and her sister, Kerry’s, husband, Richie Apicella, a very happy fella!
She is survived by her youngest sister and best friend, Kerry Apicella; sister, Mary Rose Pastor; sons, Dave, and wife, Clare, of Rye; Brian, of Chicago; and Kevin, of Chicago; grandchildren, Margot Heffernan Butler, Caroline Quinn Butler, Emma Catherine Butler, and Liam Francis Butler; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends from New York; New Jersey; Sylvania, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and Chicago. And, of course, all those patients at Riverside Hospital!
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at Church of the Resurrection in Rye. She liked people to sing in Mass! A reception will immediately follow at The Apawamis Club.
In lieu of flowers, please direct any remembrances to The Danny Butler Memorial Fund, Inc. at www.buyingtime.org.
