ONEONTA - Nancy Jane Shaw Mathisen, 71, died Feb. 18, 2025 after a short and sudden illness, surrounded by her family at Albany Medical Center.

She was born March 31, 1953 in Manhattan. Nancy was the daughter of Dorothy Abramowitz Shaw and Murray Shaw. She had two brothers, Scott and Edward.

She married Donald Mathisen in 1977 (divorced in 2002). They had two daughters, Jessica and Lindy, and she helped raise her grandson Raphael. In the early 2000's Nancy married Michelle Shekita (later they divorced). Together they ran an art studio and gallery.

Nancy had a lifelong passion for gardening. She worked as a professional gardener at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, as a volunteer at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and over the years had gardens at her homes in Chattanooga, Brooklyn, Stone Ridge, and Oneonta. She was a member of the Oneonta Community Garden.

Nancy was a lifelong artist. She excelled in photography, painting, pottery, jewelry making, weaving, and quilting. She was an active member of Susquehanna Valley Quilters.

Nancy was politically active. She protected the environment by installing solar panels, electrifying her home and driving an electric car, promoted civil and labor rights, economic justice, and other progressive causes including ending the Israeli-Palestinian war.

Her family is planning a memorial exhibit of Nancy's art works in Oneonta to celebrate her life.