Saratoga Springs - Nancy Venzke Gilliland (79) died on April 25, 2018, at the Hospice Inn, St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, New York.  Nancy was born September 24, 1938 in Bradshaw, Maryland to the late Marie Zimmerer Venzke and Carl Frederick Venzke.  She attended Saint Stephen School in Kingsville, Maryland.  After her graduation, Nancy worked as a civilian employee at the United States Army Chemical Center in Edgewood, Maryland as secretary to the commander of the Nuclear Defense Laboratory.  It was there she met her future husband John W. Gilliland.  Upon John's honorable discharge from active duty, they were married on August 18, 1961.  After their marriage, the couple lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where John was in graduate school.  During this time, Nancy worked at the United States Army Research Office at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  Their next move was to Dayton, Ohio where their daughter Cynthia was born.  John's next career move took them to Raleigh, North Carolina for 10 years, and to Horseheads, New York for 22 years. After John's retirement in 1998, they chose to live in Saratoga Springs, New York.

After the birth of her daughter, Nancy began a long career of volunteerism.  She was a wonderful cook and gave her time and skills organizing and preparing dinners for her church and other community organizations.  In Horseheads, Nancy was very active in Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church where she served on the vestry for 10 years, with 8 years as Senior Warden.  She also served as head of the Church's Property Commission.  She supervised a complete restoration of the Church Rectory, a huge undertaking employing other volunteers as well as contractors.  Her other accomplishments in Horseheads included securing a grant from the Diocesan Foundation, and later serving on the board of that Foundation.  She continued using her culinary and organizational skills to contribute to the Parish and other organizations. Also while in Horseheads, she served on the Board of Directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County, including multiple terms as President of the Board.

Nancy kept detailed records of all the dinners she prepared including numbers of people and quantities of ingredients.  She compiled all this information and her recipes for large crowds to leave with the Saint Matthew's Service league before moving away from Horseheads.

In Saratoga Springs, Nancy continued her service at Bethesda Episcopal Church. She was Chair of Hospitality for the Coffee Hour following Sunday services for 10 years, while also organizing and preparing many luncheons and dinners.

Living in a community with a Homeowners Association run by volunteers gave her a new opportunity to serve her neighbors.  Here she served on the Home Owners Association Board of Directors and as President of the board for multiple terms.  Nancy also helped institute a monthly "Top of the Hill Party", an informal opportunity for neighbors to get together during the summer months.

One of Nancy's greatest joys in life was getting together with friends either for conviviality or for more serious purposes.  Nancy loved to play bridge and she was a good bridge player, but the best part was spending time with friends.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 56 years, John W. Gilliland, of Saratoga Springs, New York; her daughter Cynthia A. Gilliland, of Wilder, Vermont; her sister Carol Marzullo (Louis), of Freeland, Maryland; Edward Huber, of Faulkner, Maryland; David Huber (Susannah), of Baldwin, Maryland; and Larry Huber (Stacey), of Westminster, Maryland. In addition to her parents, Nancy is predeceased by one sister, Shirley Winkler, and one brother, Carl Frederick Venzke, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy's memory may be made to Bethesda Episcopal Church, 43 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 or the American Heart Association, 4 Atrium Dr. Suite 100, Albany, NY, 12205.

The Order For A Requiem Eucharist will be at 11am Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the Bethesda Episcopal Church, 41 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, celebrated by The Very Reverend Marshall J. Vang.

Reception to follow at The First Baptist Church of Saratoga's Hall Memorial Building, 43 Washington Street, Saratoga Springs, New York.

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.