On July 6, 2024, Nancy Elaine Kenney, loving wife and mother, passed away at age 93.

Nancy was born on Oct. 12, 1930, in Biddeford, to Edgar Towler and Lillian Lord Towler. She graduated from Kennebunk High School in Maine and the former Northeastern Business Junior College in Boston. One summer day, she met a young gentleman named Frank Kenney at Kennebunk’s Gooch’s Beach, across from which his family had a summer home. He spotted Nancy sitting on a beach towel with her mother. When Nancy went for a dip, he talked up her mother until Nancy returned. Nancy, a “year-rounder” and Frank dated, and would marry.

They co-founded The Sporting Tailors, a women’s conservative and classic women’s clothing company and manufacturer. Nancy sewed the first line. She also co-designed each collection. The business would grow to sell to boutiques up and down the eastern corridor, including Talbots, Carroll Reed and Bonwit Teller. The Kenneys lived in Boston’s Back Bay and Weston. Nancy became involved in philanthropic causes such as the Metropolitan Opera (when the company toured to Boston), the World Affairs Council and the Boston Symphony. She received a blessing from Pope John Paul II during a trip to Rome. When she and Frank retired, they moved back to their beloved Kennebunk in the home that she grew up in.

Nancy was a survivor. When she was 8 years old, her mother picked her up early from school one warm September day when they were living in Westerly, Rhode Island. They took a spin around the beach when suddenly they were struck by fierce winds and rapidly rising tides. Fallen trees blocked every road to their home. Her father frantically searched for them all night, finally discovering their car. They had slept in it overnight. The Great Hurricane of 1938 was one of the most powerful and destructive storms in history. Her family lost many friends and neighbors out of the hundreds of fatalities. Surviving a hurricane was just one of her triumphs. She would pull through three strokes, Covid and viral pneumonia.

Nancy was preceded by the death of her parents and husband. She is survived by her daughter Lisa Lord Pierpont, granddaughters Elizabeth Langley and Gemma Lord Pierpont, and son-in-law, Brant Christian Binder. And, her cherished pug, Susie.

A private funeral service will be held at Bibber Memorial Chapel in Kennebunk. Flowers may be sent to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043. Donations may be sent in honor of Nancy to the American Stroke Association (https://www.stroke.org/?form=FUNXCKKCVVE)

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence please visit Nancy’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043.