Nancy Kochenderfer

Nancy Lewis Kochenderfer passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2008, in Bethesda, Maryland. She was a long-time resident of her native Royal Oak, Michigan. Mrs. Kochenderfer was the wife of music educator L. Vincent Kochenderfer, and the mother of seven children Lee, Sandra, Kristen, Karil, Marc, Kent and Kurt, and the grandmother of twelve grandchildren Katharine, Leah, Eric, Drew, Ryan, Nathaniel, Karly, Kory, Kerry, Toby, Konnor and Jenna. Mrs. Kochenderfer was a professional organist for over thirty years. After graduating from Royal Oak High School, she attended the University of Detroit and graduated in music performance from the University of Michigan School of Music; she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota professional music sorority. While studying music in Ann Arbor, she met and dated her future husband, Vincent, and married following their graduation. Nancy and Vincent would work together later as an organist and choral director in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham, Michigan. She believed in gospel ministry through music and received many opportunities to serve, including traveling with Vincent to Europe and South America with the Youth for Understanding Chorale 1969-1971 and the Southeastern Michigan Youth Chorale 1974-75. Visitation will occur on Friday, February 1, 2008 from 4-8:00 p.m. at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W. Eleven Mile Road, Royal Oak. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by interment at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak. Share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com.