Nancy Ann (Nebel) Van Wallendael, 90, of Great Meadows, NJ, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2024 at The House of the Good Shepard with her loving family at her side.

Nancy was born on December 16, 1933 in Jersey City, NJ to Frank Nebel and Ann Garlichs.

Nancy married Larry Van Wallendael in 1955. They attended New York University together, where Nancy graduated Summa Cum Laude of NYU (she was Valedictorian of her high school class). With their 3 children, they moved to Hackettstown in 1968. When starting a real estate business, Nancy couldn’t find a road map of Warren County, so she drove throughout the county and made her own. A shrewd businesswoman, with Larry at her side, she ran a successful real estate business with offices in Hackettstown, Chester, Ledgewood and Lake Hopatcong. They also ran a Mexican restaurant on Long Beach Island, “Jose’s by the Sea”. After all her business ventures, she continued to work at Skyland’s Bank, and VS Land Data as the bookkeeper until 2020.

Nancy was an avid reader, and a lifelong animal and dog lover. She enjoyed spending time with her family, her daily Manhattan, and her dogs. People would come from far and wide to enjoy cocktails and dinner at Nancy’s. She would always cook amazing and oftentimes exotic food.  People would say this was the first time they ever had certain things, like curry.  And they loved it.  One of her requests was that people “sign” their names on the dining room table.  With a steak knife.  Over the years this resulted in a really unique guest “registry”.  Her beautiful victorian house in downtown Hackettstown was like a hotel.  You never knew who was sleeping over, or in what room.  Until they came downstairs in the morning for breakfast.  

She is survived by her loving children; Peter and his wife Gail Smith, Laurie Van Wallendael, and Jeffrey Van Wallendael and his wife Karen, several grandchildren; Acer Van Wallendael and his wife Beth Ansaldi, Alle Van Wallendael, Megan Lichtenstein and her husband Andrew, and Callie Van Wallendael; and a sister, Judy Foester. And we can’t forget Pal, her German Shepard, who now lives with Jeff and Karen. She is predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Larry Van Wallendael. 

A memorial will be planned at a later date. Donations can be made to the National Wildlife Federation, or the Nature Conservancy, where Nancy volunteered.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840.