Nancy Jasper Wilder

Albany--Nancy Jasper Wilder, 77, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 8, 2018.

Born on May 18, 1940 in Albany, Nancy was the daughter of the late Samuel and Frances Rosenfield Jasper. Nancy graduated from Albany High School and continued her education at SUNY Geneseo before later graduating cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Albany, all while working full time and being a single parent. She excelled in her career as a Labor Services Representative with the NYS Department of Labor, resume workshop expert and Older Worker program representative. Nancy was promoted to Senior Personnel Representative at OTDA before a well-deserved retirement in 2001. Busier than ever in retirement, she cared for her Dad, acted and directed in community theater, taught English as a Second Language with Literacy Volunteers, delivered Meals on Wheels, and volunteered as a companion to the elderly. Nancy truly loved initiating joyous outings to plays, museums, shops, orchards, concerts and dinners with family and friends.

Well-known and loved in the Capital District theater community, Nancy acted in and directed productions like Harvey, Fiddler on the Roof, Steel Magnolias and the Odd Couple (Female Version) for Albany Civic Theater, Schenectady Civic Theatre, The Sand Lake Center for the Arts (formerly Circle Theater Players), Curtain Call Theater and many others. She especially shone in pieces by Neil Simon where her comic timing and facial expressions rivaled those of her idols, Totie Fields and Molly Goldberg.

Nancy loved day trips and travel, enjoying train rides to the west coast and Yellowstone, flights to London, Paris and Amsterdam, and vacations in Cape Cod and at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. Nancy loved entertaining and making people laugh and ponder life's wonders and complexities. Wherever she went, she brought the party with her, and, to quote her favorite character, Auntie Mame, she embodied the saying, "life is a banquet." Nancy was a loving mother, grandmother and friend who will be immensely missed.

Survivors include her loving daughter, Abra Wilder; granddaughter Desiree Bouton; four great-grandchildren with one on the way; her very dear friend, Paula Ginder; nephew, Stephen Wattenberg; cousins Aaron, Al and Herb Jasper, and her rescue fur baby, Blue. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Donald Bouton, and grandson, DJ Bouton.

A celebration of Nancy's life will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 6 pm at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie. Calling hours will be held prior to the service starting at 4 pm. Burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family at Memory Gardens, Albany.

In the immortal words of Nancy's theater program bio, "I'm only short when I stand up."

Donations in Nancy's name in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.