Nancy K. HANES-WATERS, 63, of Whitesville, NY, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, under the care of her amazing Cardiac Team at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester. 

Born October 4, 1962, in Blossburg, PA, she was the daughter of Warren L. “Gabe” and Ellen L. Uber Hanes. On November 23, 2005, in Andover, she married Richard H. Waters, Jr., who survives. A 1980 graduate of Northern Potter High School, she earned her nursing degree from Alfred State College. She was a beloved nurse at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, who was proud of taking care of others as an OR Nurse and then as a Recovery Nurse. 

Nancy and Richard had just spent just shy of two weeks checking off her bucket list in Alaska with her high school best friend, Laurie Flewellyn Mixter. Nancy was known for her love of baking and cooking meals for others. Her pies were the talk of town. Nancy was an 11-year cancer survivor who lived her journey saying she was not sick, she just had cancer. She never allowed that horrible disease to take her away. She was and always will be a warrior. The challenges she faced head on would leave people speechless. There is one thing true that Nancy would want all of you to know – Live your life your way. Don’t let anyone or anything to hold you back. She fought for her life, leaving this Earth her way. 

Surviving besides her husband, Richard, are: her father, Gabe Hanes of Genesee, PA; two children, Samantha (David Shay) Howe of Wellsville and Richie Waters of Whitesville; four grandchildren, Nathaniel “Finn”, Morgaen “Ladybug”, Gracelyn “Hollywood”, and Casyn “Little Red”; her four beloved animals, Tank, Baby Duke, Miss Pissy, and Merly Pearly; four siblings, Patricia (Gene) Seidel of Auburn, PA, Warren (Maureen) Hanes, Jr., Tammy (Jesse) Snyder, and Cora Gehret, all of Genesee; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her mother; and a son-in-law, Christopher D. Howe. 

Private burial will be in Parker Hill Cemetery, Sunderlinville, PA. Memorials may be made to any cancer service organization. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust & Embser Funeral Homes & Cremation, 34 West State Street, Wellsville, NY. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wellsvillefuneralhome.com.