Nancy Jeanne Chesna Sherman

Nancy Jeanne Chesna Sherman passed away peacefully in Olney, MD on March 12, 2025. Always one for precision, Nancy was exactly 93 ½ years old.  She was born to Gustave and Martha (Kurth) Chesna on September 12, 1931 in Birmingham, MI.  She was raised by Gustave and Lucille (Willert) Chesna, as her birth mother (Martha) died very soon after giving birth to Nancy.

From an early age Nancy loved music and became extremely accomplished on both piano and pipe organ. In grade school she was the accompanist for musical events and she continued this through junior and senior high school.   Nancy earned a degree in organ at Wayne State College (now University) and continued to accompany varied musical events. Nancy met her future husband, Hal, at Wayne State and they were married in Birmingham, MI in August 1955. Nancy was married to Hal Sherman for over 60 years.

Nancy and Hal moved to the Washington, DC area in 1956, where Hal became part of The United States Army Chorus (TUSAC) and Nancy raised 2 children, Jeff and Jenny, while continuing her musical endeavors.  Nancy graced numerous NoVa area churches with her talents as organist and choir director as well as accompanying other area choral and instrumental organizations. During the 1970s, Nancy taught music within the Fairfax County Public School System.

Nancy and Hal retired in 1979 and moved to Keysville, VA, where they built a passive solar home that Hal had designed. Never one to sit around, Nancy then began her second career as staff accompanist at Longwood College (now University).  She enjoyed working with singers and instrumentalists for their graduation performances and especially loved rehearsals and being part of pit orchestras for theatrical productions.  Nancy and Hal moved to Farmville during this time, and then had a home built in Williamsburg, VA.  Nancy continued accompanying students, choirs, and theatrical productions, but now at William and Mary.  She also became involved in Williamsburg’s First Night events.  Nancy and Hal also enjoyed being part of the Williamsburg Choral Guild.

Nancy lost Hal to cancer in December 2015. In 2021, she moved to Silver Spring, MD to be closer to her children.  Nancy is pre-deceased by her husband Hal, and son, Jeffrey Mark Sherman.  Nancy is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Baker (David) and daughter-in-law, Margaret Sherman (Jeffrey) as well as three grandchildren, Sierra (Jennifer), Jessica (Jeff), and Zachary (Jeff). Nancy is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Corinne Chesna, sister-in-law, Joann (Tom) Sherman, and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a future date. Nancy will be cremated and her ashes interred at Arlington National cemetery with her husband. Those wishing to honor her memory are asked to make a donation to a musical organization.