Obituary of Nancy Anne Wilkins Eidle

Nancy Wilkins Eidle, 84, of Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2022, at Ferncliff Nursing Home surrounded by her loving family. Nan suffered for many years from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Nan was born on February 16, 1938, in Syracuse, New York to the late Wilson and Dorothy Wilkins. Her family moved to Poughkeepsie early in her life from Lyons, NY.  She remained a resident of Poughkeepsie throughout her life, becoming an active member of the community.  After graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1955, Nan received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manhattanville College and a Master’s degree in Special Education from C.W. Post College.  She was dedicated to furthering her education, ultimately receiving her School Administration certification from Pace University. Nan was a dedicated educator, starting her career teaching at Vassar Road Elementary School.  She then spent numerous years as a special education teacher at Krieger Elementary School in the Poughkeepsie City School District.  Nan subsequently became the Director of Pupil Personnel for the Poughkeepsie City School District and spent the later years of her career as a senior administrator for special education at Dutchess County BOCES.  Nan was dedicated to her profession. She adored her students and they adored her. They could often be seen running up to her in the community, anxious to greet her with a big smile.

On July 1, 1961, Nan married the love of her life, Bill Eidle at Holy Trinity Church.  The couple spent several years in the Bronx before relocating to Poughkeepsie where they raised their three children David, Paul and Kirsten. After spending several years at home as a full time mother, Nan returned to her teaching profession. Nan also found many ways to serve within her community.  Along with Bill, she was an active member of St. Mary’s Church where she was both a lector and eucharistic minister.  She was very involved in Cursillo, serving as a team member, rector and cook for numerous weekend retreats. After her retirement, Nan pursued additional ways to support those in need. She donated time to homeless shelters, served on the board of Greystone Programs and became a certified volunteer for Hospice, often going above and beyond to support the families she was assisting. 

Nan cherished time spent with her family, especially her 6 grandchildren. She enjoyed summers in Cape Cod with her family, traveling with Bill to Europe and spending time in the Florida Keys with Bill after retirement. Nan was known for her beautiful flower arrangements, was a fantastic cook, and a voracious reader, especially while relaxing on the beaches of Cape Cod, the Florida Keys and her parents’ cottage on Lake Hebron in Monson Maine. 

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Bill Eidle; her children, David W. Eidle and his wife Ivy of Middleton, MA, Paul R. Eidle and his wife Jean of Huntington, NY, and Kirsten Eidle-Barkman and her husband Peter of Delmar, NY; her grandchildren David Jr, Darcy, and Dayna Eidle, Kayla and Luke Eidle, and Nathan Barkman; her brother Patrick Wilkins and his wife Trish of Poughkeepsie; and a niece and several nephews. 

Calling Hours will be held on Friday March 4, 2022 from 3pm to 7pm at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York 12603. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am Saturday March 5, 2022, at St. Mary's Church Poughkeepsie, New York. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family at Calvary Cemetery Poughkeepsie, New York. 

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Nan’s name be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (2649 South Road Suite 101 Poughkeepsie, New York 12601; https://www.alz.org/hudsonvalley) or to Catholic Relief Services (218 Church Street Poughkeepsie, New York 12601; Catholic Relief Services).  The family would like to thank the staff and administrators of Ferncliff Nursing Home, particularly Unit 3B, for their outstanding care for and compassionate support of Nan.

If you would like to leave an online condolence, please visit our website at www.doylefuneralhome.com.