Nancy Lou Saarlas

Nancy Lou Saarlas, 86, of Ellicott City, Maryland died on December 4, 2020. She is survived by Mike, her loving husband of 64 years, devoted children Christina Saarlas Siedlecki and Scott Saarlas (wife Kris), and loving grandchildren Anna, Lauren, Caroline, Clarisse and Erik, and brother Lowell Gratigny.. Born April 28, 1934 in Chicago, she graduated from Maine Township High School in Des Plaines, Illinois, and went on to earn her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Art Education at the University of Illinois. She met her husband while on a tour of the campus Presbyterian church where he was living. Nancy taught middle school art in Long Beach, California and followed her husband to Cincinnati where she was the chair of the University of Cincinnati YMCA Women’s Association. She led its efforts in assisting inner city development during the sixties, and she worked to support and educate youth. After moving to Maryland in 1969, she devoted time to her family, while pursuing intaglio printmaking at the Maryland Federation of Art in Baltimore. Her work was featured in several Maryland galleries. Church volunteer work became a full-time profession, and for the past four decades Nancy focused her work on the relationship between her faith and the arts. Nancy directed the mission for the Maryland Presbytery in the 1970s and conducted workshops for faith organizations across the country. She spent 20 years as the Director of Christian Education for the Woods Memorial Church in Severna Park, Maryland, and served as the Moderator of the Baltimore Presbytery. After retiring in 2000, she led the creation of a permanent art gallery at Woods Memorial Church and was a volunteer curator for another 15 years while pursuing watercolor as her new and favorite medium. She was an avid sailor and traveler, visiting more than 20 countries, and for many years held season tickets at both the Baltimore Symphony and Arena Stage. After her retirement, she continued her passions for art, faith and social justice, and spent much of her time teaching these values to her grandchildren. She loved to laugh. Nancy read the newspaper cover to cover, often out loud, especially when it related to politics. Funeral services will be private. The family plans a late spring celebration of her magnificent and well-lived life for family and friends when permitted in Spring 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Saarlas Gallery Fund at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park, MD 21146, or to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org.