Nancy G. Shelly

Nancy G. Shelly, 79, of Bethlehem, PA passed away on Friday May 10, 2021, at Moravian Hall Square in Nazareth, PA. She was born in Bethlehem, the daughter of the late Louis and Wilhelmina Goldberg. She and her husband, David G. Shelly, celebrated 55 years of marriage on June 26, 2020.

Nancy received her B.A. from Cedar Crest College and pursued post-graduate work in Lehigh Universitys Department of English. She taught English at Hellertown High School and was a gifted artist. She will be remembered for her well-known wit and humor, volunteer work, and beautifully intricate paper cutting.

Nancys life is a story of giving to her community. She helped found the Trinity Episcopal Soup Kitchen where she volunteered for many years. She enjoyed providing food to people and in later years, kitchen visitors would often find her at the stove ready with a smile. A member of the Bethlehem Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) for more than 20 years, she was also a regular contributor to her own neighborhood Bethlehem Historic District Association (BHDA). Nancy earned national renown for her German paper cutting art or “Scherenschnitte,” which means “scissor cuts.” Her work has been displayed on the White House Christmas tree in Washington, DC as well as in Boston Symphony Hall, the Strawbery Banke Museum of Portsmouth, NH, the study collection of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, NC, the Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster, the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, and various regional museums including Bethlehems own Kemmerer Museum of Decorative Arts. Nancy regularly designed and contributed original works included in the Snow Goose Gallerys “The Art of the Miniature Invitational Exhibition of Fine Art Miniatures from Around the World.” Last year, Moravian Hall Square hosted a solo exhibition of her work featuring a retrospective of the art she had created over several decades.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Adam Shelly and wife Dr. Belma Sadikovic of Walnut Creek, CA; daughter, Amanda Daja and husband Janis of Bethlehem; grandchildren, Grace, Benjamin, Lukas, and Gabriel; and son in-law, Earl Kinsley. She was predeceased by a daughter, Jessica W. Kinsley.

Calling hours will be held from 9:30-11am on Wednesday June 2, 2021 at the Connell Funeral Home 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18108 followed by a Memorial Service at 11am. Burial will be held at Nisky Hill Cemetery. Please bring a single bloom or a cutting from your garden to be placed graveside.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Bethlehem Palette Club Scholarship Fund in Nancys Name, care of John Piznak, Treasurer: 2295 South Delaware Dr. Easton, PA 18042-9710 or to https://historicbethlehem.org/support/donate/

Calling Hours
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Memorial Service
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Burial
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
12:30 PM
Nisky Hill Cemetery
254 E. Church St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531