Lorna McCook Fancher, 85 of Hamden, passed away Thursday evening, November 29, 2007 at home following a short illness.

Lorna was born in Highland Park, Michigan the daughter of the late Frank W. and Mildred Randall McCook. Her mother died when she was six weeks old of spinal meningitis. Lorna and her brother, William were then cared for by their paternal grandmother, Sarah Gray McCook, who lived on Ogden St., in Walton. They were later joined by their aunt, Ruth Marie McCook, and her young cousin, Jack Stewart. Later, during high school, she lived in Oneonta, residing with their father and step mother, Frank and Kate. Lorna attended nursing school at Crouse-Irving Hospital, Syracuse, in 1942. During WW-II she joined the Army Nurse Corps., and served as an officer and nurse anesthetist in Assam, India. She worked in an operating room, caring for patients not only from allied countries, but also from China, Afghanistan, and other Asian countries. This hospital served soldiers who were stationed at a military base at the foot of the Himalayas.

Subsequent to the war she received additional training in Detroit, Michigan. She then worked in Charleston, South Carolina; as a nurse anesthetist, and also in Troy, NY, and Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, before returning to Walton. In 1954 she married William S. Fancher, a Walton attorney. They had 3 children, Samuel, Sarah, and Lincoln, all of whom survive her. After the children were in school, she returned to work as a registered nurse at Delaware Valley Hospital. There she worked in cardiac and intensive care, and also as a floor nurse. She moved to Hamden in 1975, and continued to work at DVH until her retirement in 1990.

Besides her children, she is survived by 8 grandchildren, John, Nicole, Shaun, Jerahmie, Catherine, Elise, Daniel, Will, her brother, William McCook, formerly of Norwich, his son, Matthew McCook of Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, and a cousin, Priscilla Gordon of Gainsville, Florida.

In keeping with Lorna's wishes, a private graveside service will be held at Walton Cemetery, at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours.