Nancy Leah Alston was born on January 12, 1937 in Irvington, NJ to Henry and Ruth (Taber) Metternich. She was their 4th daughter, joining Emma (Smith), Jean (Rudyk) and Betty (Melka). Two years later, Pat (VanHorn) was born and thus began the sister’s lifelong nickname as ‘the Metternich girls’. Later, after their mother, Ruth, passed away and Henry remarried, Hank and Cynthia Metternich (Bianco) joined the family.
Nancy attended school in Newark and after high school she met her sweetheart, Edward Alston, at a baseball game. Nancy and Ed got married in 1957 and in 1961 they welcomed their first child, Karen, and then, after 9 long years they welcomed their son, Thomas in 1970.
Nancy and Ed bought a little cape cod home in Rahway when Karen was 4 and Nancy started her career in business as a keypuncher. As they enjoyed life in Rahway, Nancy discovered her love for playing bingo and would go with her friends every Saturday night to play and sometimes, she’d even win the jackpot!
In 1979, the Alstons moved to south Jersey when Ed, who worked for General Motors, was transferred. They bought a beautiful home in the woods outside of Medford, in Indian Mills, Shamong Township. Nancy thrived as her family was happy and her career was advancing, and she eventually became the Manager of Data Entry for Compucare, where she worked for many years.
In 1989, Ed and Nancy retired and moved to Bowmansville, PA to live next to Karen and her husband, Kevin Fuentes, in a newly built two family home. Nancy became a grandma to Karen and Kevin’s children, William Thomas Fuentes, who later married Alyssia Malone, and Jennifer Leah Fuentes, who later married Ryan Ink. Nancy became a great grandma to Lyric Grace Fuentes, and Logan Matthew Ink.
In 1997, Nancy’s son Thomas married Lynn Spayd and later they welcomed Nancy’s 3rd grandchild, Abigail Leah Alston. To say Nancy was a dotting grandma is an understatement. She relished her role as Grammy, and adored Billy, Jenny and Abby.
Nancy loved to bake, pecan tarts and almond crescents being her specialties. She always had a cup of coffee in her hand and was a “ditto head” a devoted Rush Limbaugh fan. Nancy met her sister Pat at the re-uzit shops in Ephrata every Friday for years and looked forward to her visits with her sisters, in LBI in NJ and at their yearly ‘retreat’. The Metternich girls together was always a beautiful thing. The love they shared was very special.
On June 20, 2025 Nancy left us to be with Ed, Emma, Jean and Betty. Nancy’s selfless spirit will live on in all of us who love her.
A memorial service and interment will be private.
The family wishes to thank the devoted staff at Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center for the loving care they provided for Nancy throughout her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center, 2499 Zerbe Road, Narvon, PA 17555.
Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata. Online condolences can be given at stradlingfuneralhome.com.
