There was a party going on at the Little Rock Church in Pipe Creek.
The quilting group honored Nancy Westley on her 100th birthday by hosting a luncheon for her in the Fellowship Hall of Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church on Monday, May 6.
Nancy Ladd Westley was born on May 6, 1924, to John and Georgina Ladd in Cambridge, Massachusetts. However, she spent her childhood nearby in Belmont, Massachusetts.
She married the love of her life Richard Westley in January 1946 and, after some traveling around, they moved to Texas in 1953. They settled in the Pipe Creek area, where they stayed.
Together, they had three children. Unfortunately, two have passed on. She remains close to her daughter Mary.
Over the years she has worked at many jobs, including sales clerk and food handler. She tried her hand at real estate but found it just didn’t fit her.
She has always enjoyed reading and jigsaw puzzles and, for many years, dabbled at quilting.
In 2009, one of the women at the church asked her if she would like to start a quilting group.
That became the Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church Quilters, which has steadily grown over time so that it now has about 15 members.
The Quilters has been her focus for many years and it has become a ministry to serve others with the love of Christ.
This group makes quilts to give to others who are ill, recovering from surgery or injury, or who are bereaved. In 2023 the group gave out more that 140 quilts. Since the beginning of this year they have already donated 60 quilts.
They welcome requests from anyone who knows of a need.
Westley was asked what her favorite memory was and she immediately responded with, “My 70th wedding anniversary. It was right here at the church.” That event occurred in January 2016.
She added, “But my husband passed away later that same year.”
Westley now lives in Boerne in her own apartment, with a female companion. She no longer quilts and finds reading difficult. She said, “The last few days have been wonderful.”
When asked what is the secret to living for 100 years, she said, “There is no secret. If there’s a secret, then it’s a secret from me! I just kept waking up.” However, she then grabbed her cop of coffee and added, “I have to have my coffee. It keeps me going.”
