Frances Ziegler Clemens Nyce passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 26, 2023 while in the loving care of staff at Foxdale Village, State College, Penna. Born at home to Lovina and LeRoy Clemens in Hatfield, Penna., on February 7, 1924, Fran is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Lucy (Clemens) and Joseph Loomis of Pennsylvania Furnace, Penna; nieces and nephews Jane Mohr, Richard Mohr, Barbara Heinly, Heidi Loomis, Jill Loomis, and Andrew Loomis; and nine great-nieces and -nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Price Nyce, and sisters Grace Clemens Kern and Gladys Clemens.
Fran was a graduate of Juniata College where she majored in languages. She also took graduate courses in religious studies at the University of the Pacific. Fran was an accomplished watercolor artist and choral singer. A lifelong devoted member of the Church of the Brethren, she worked, volunteered, and supported the denomination and organizations affiliated with it at local, national, and international levels, including serving as orientation director for Brethren Volunteer Service in New Windsor, Maryland where she and Bill met; Juniata College, where she served as assistant to the president and where she and Bill later established the Nyce Scholarship Fund to support students’ academic studies in Latin America; Bethany Seminary; On Earth Peace; Womaen’s Caucus; and Global Women’s Project. She lived in Kassel, Germany for four years in the 1960’s where she organized the work of the Brethren Service Commission and many international service volunteers. She also served two years as the Maryland representative for the US Committee for UNICEF and for many years was an active member of the League of Women Voters. She and Bill traveled extensively, often on educational trips related to their work for the Church of the Brethren and especially for Bill’s work with SERRV International, a fair-trade organization whose mission is to help build sustainable employment, resources, rights, and vision for small-scale global artisans and farmers. Fran and Bill also generously befriended and sponsored a Laotian family as their own for many years.
Fran actively opposed wars everywhere, including those in Central America, Vietnam, and Iraq. She also advocated tirelessly for civil rights for all people, especially for women and those who identify as LGBTQ+ within the Church of the Brethren and at local, state, and national political levels.
Fran was devoted to her family and friends who will miss her and who remain inspired by her lifelong and loving service to humanity.
A celebration of Fran’s life will be held at a later date. We invite you to support her legacy of justice and peacemaking by contributing as you are able to:
• “On Earth Peace” (PO Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21176), an organization committed to teaching nonviolence to respond to conflict, injustice, violence, militarism, and war.
• The “Global Women’s Project c/o Church of the Brethren” (1451 Dundee Ave, Elgin IL 60120), which seeks to educate about wealth, power, and oppression, and to empower women around the world.
• The “Westminster Church of the Brethren”, 19 Bond St, Westminster, MD 21157, Fran’s home church for many years.