Nancy R Gates-Hickney
Nancy R Gates-Hickney died on January 15, 2026 at St Lukes Hospital. She was born in New Bedford MA on June 12, 1951 to Roger E and Mildred I (Robinson) Gates.
She graduated from New Bedford Vocational School, Cape Cod Community College and she attended Roger Williams University.
After retiring from Titleist as administrative assistant she worked at St Martin’s Episcopal Church as Parish Administrator until her death.
As a lifetime member of the church, she served in the vestry, finance committee, was a lay reader and worked in the thrift shop.
Nancy loved gardening and surrounded her patio with flowers. She spent many hours reading on the patio, visiting with friends and feeding the chipmunks. After years of painting lessons she painted many landscapes, flowers and birds.
She was predeceased by her husband, Reginald Hickney, her parents Roger and Mildred Gates, a niece Whitney L Tsao and a special cousin, Betsy McCague.
She is survived by her sister, Susan Tsao and her husband David of Newburyport, MA, nephew Nathan Tsao and his wife Melissa and daughter Ruby of Kailua-Kona, HI, two nieces, Allison Tsao and her husband Patrick of Philadelphia, PA, and Madison Tsao and her partner Jeremy of Groveland, MA. As well as several Gates and McCague cousins, her St Martin’s Church family, the Phillips/Furtado family, she was like a sister to them and Katy and Winslow, her beloved cats.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St Martin’s Episcopal Church, 136 Rivet St, New Bedford, MA 02744 or Habitat for Cats, 1322 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02745.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 at St Martin’s Episcopal Church 136 Rivet St New Bedford, MA 02744
