Nancy Chablani

Nancy Lachman Chablani passed away on January 11, 2023 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after 7 days in Medical ICU preceded by hospitalization of 2 weeks at St Joseph’s Hospital in Chicago. Nancy was born in Wilmington Delaware on May 9, 1944 to David and Virginia/Jean (nee Daley) Blake, sister to Connie and David. She graduated from St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington where she played tennis and basketball. After graduating from high school she moved on to St Mary’s School of Nursing in Philadelphia. She was one of the best nurses and provided wonderfully compassionate care to her patients. After a stint of working as a shift supervisor, she joined Visiting Nurses Association of Delaware where she worked until she married. She met her husband, Lachman V. Chablani, MD, when he was an Intern at the hospital and Nancy was a student nurse. A chance question during morning medical rounds brought these two young learners together and they eventually married in 1967, a marriage that lasted for 56 years, “till death do us apart”. Nancy’s whole life revolved around her true love – the Family. She raised 4 wonderful children who grew up with qualities of caring, compassion and community service.

In earlier days after marriage she and Lachman lived in India, where she bonded strongly with her mother-in-law, Sita Chablani, and her eldest brother-in-law, fondly called Dada Nanik. These wonderful, caring people shared with her their values of family love and strengthened her resolve to help and serve the underprivileged and under-served. After that she, along with her husband, settled in Toledo, Ohio which became their home for over 50 years. She was a truly wonderful mother and was part of her children’s lives, activities and academics. She was an active participant of Parents Club at Ladyfield School, Notre Dame Academy Parent’s Association and St. John’s High School Mother’s Club where she served as the Board President. Her true spirit of caring, particularly for kids, showed when she worked as Court Appointed Special Advocate, in Lucas County Juvenile Court for more than10 years. She served on Citizen’s Review Board and The Closure Board of Lucas County Juvenile Court. She also served on the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center Board, Mobile Meals of Toledo Board, Sunset House Board and Toledo Day Nursery Board.

This dedicated mother took a hiatus from all her volunteer services and Boards to help her eldest daughter, Malini who was pregnant with triplets during her 3rd year medical school and Peter, her husband, who was working on his Doctorate in Clinical Child Psychology. Nancy was in Cincinnati 5 days a week when, with the Grace of God, the three healthy babies were born and she helped take care of the precious infants, whom she loved dearly.

Nancy was a Member of the Alliance of the Academy of Medicine of Toledo and Lucas County, having served on the Executive Board, Ways and Means Committee and Treasurer. She was a Member of Mercy Hospital, Toledo Auxiliary, organized and chaired “Woman of Mercy”, a fund raising event and celebration for several years. She put her fundraising talents in further use at Mercy St. Charles Hospital where she organized with the Foundation and Chaired the Crystal Ball Committee for many years. She was a Mercy St. Charles Foundation Board Member. She was a Founding Member and Vice-President of the Auxiliary to the International Physicians of NW Ohio, and Secretary and Vice President of the then India Association of Toledo. Her caring compassion never stopped. She was a strong supporter of Mareda Center which provided education, support and well being for underprivileged children in Toledo.

Nancy was an artist with a flair for decoration and design. She designed the home that was built on the Quarry, decorated it to welcome others and took care of it all by herself. She created a warm loving home where her children, families and friends loved to come. Her artistic talents took off in doing glass fusion and slumping with Janine Ody. She made many beautiful artistic pieces most of which were given to her children, family, friends and donated to silent auctions for charity fundraisers. In April, 2022, she and her loving husband moved to Chicago and became adored neighbors at Brookdale Senior Living in their apartment overlooking downtown and Lake Michigan.

Preceding her in death were her parents David and Jean (Virginia) Blake, sister Connie Blake Mulvena, and her loving, caring close knit in-laws: mother and father in-law Sita and Dr. Vishindas Chablani; brothers-in-law, Dr. Nanik and his wife Sheela Chablani; Maj. General Pitamber/Pritam and his wife Koshi Chablani; Dr. Pribhu (Barkha) Chablani; Dr. Gope Chablani; and sister in-law Hardevi and her husband Anand Golani. Nancy is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Lachman Chablani and children: daughter Malini, son-in-law Peter Gillen; son Aneel, daughter-in-law Kate Mitchell; son Raj; daughter Anisha, son-in-law William Medley; and seven grandchildren who were her greatest joy: Noah, Joshua, Maggie, Anna, Malcolm, Ravi and Kaya. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Dr. Indu and her husband Gobind Nainani, brother David and sister-in-law Sara Blake, and nieces and nephews here in the US and all over the world.

Funeral services and cremation will be held at Countryside Funeral Home & Crematory in Bartlett, Illinois with officiating by Hindu Priest Pandit Vasudevji. A future Celebration of Life of Nancy will be held in spring time in Toledo, Ohio at the Hindu Temple. Please watch for announcements in Toledo Blade and The Temple News. Contributions in Nancie’s memory may be made to the
Hindu Temple and Heritage Hall of Toledo, 4336 King Road, Sylvania, Ohio 43560.