Nancy M. Crider

Nancy Makl Crider, 89, died on Monday, January 5th, 2026, at River Glen Health Care Center in Southbury. She was born on July 4, 1936, at Waterbury Hospital to William and Anna (Prakusky) Makl. She was predeceased by her daughter, Gretchen Crider; her sister, Millie (Makl) Hayward; and her mother, Anna. She is survived by her ex-husband, Thomas Crider; nephews Mark and Ian Hayward; and nieces Polly Miller, Kirsten Stone, and Elisabeth Hayward.

Nancy studied at the University of Connecticut, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in English. During her young adulthood, Nancy was very active in the Civil Rights Movement, reporting from the front row on The Mall in Washington, D.C. for Dr. Martin Luther King’s seminal speech. She also volunteered for impoverished and disenfranchised populations in the South. She went on to work as a reporter for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Nancy wrote many front-page stories on civil rights, labor, and local politics. After managing the Atticus Bookstore in Heritage Village, she opened her own bookstore, Chapter One, in Newtown, which she ran for several years. She also worked for The Taunton Press as an Assistant Editor in the marketing department.

After her retirement, Nancy decided to give back to her community and was hired as a circulation librarian at the Woodbury Public Library. As an avid reader herself, she was extremely helpful in recommending resources of all kinds to the patrons.

Nancy was a life-long supporter of animal rights organizations, particularly elephant sanctuaries, and she encouraged others to lend their support as well.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Please consider donating to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust or any ethical sanctuary of your choice in Nancy’s memory.

Munson Lovetere Lovetere Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements. To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com