Genevieve C. Nass

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Road in Fitchburg.



LUNENBURG – Longtime dance and physical education teacher, Genevieve C. Nass, 67, died Nov. 29, following complications from diabetes.

Known for the twinkle in her eye and her big smile, she ran her own dance studio, Genevieve’s School of Dance, for more than 40 years, and taught physical education for 20 years in the Lunenburg Public Schools. She also directed the Lunenburg Town Beach for many years, acting as a lifeguard, swimming instructor and lifeguard trainer.

Genevieve was born on Sept. 30, 1955, attended Lunenburg schools and graduated from Lunenburg High School in 1973.

She was always very active, and as a teenager she studied with the famous dancer, Marion Rice, who founded the Marion Rice Studio of the Dance in Fitchburg.

She went on to study dance at UMass Amherst, during which time she performed at Jacob’s Pillow, a world-renowned dance center in Becket. She graduated in June 1977.

Gen loved her dancers and eagerly awaited each new dance year, where she patiently taught students of varying levels, encouraging them all to do their best.

Gen loved movement, and in past years she could often be found running Lunenburg’s rural roads as she was practicing for road races. She ran the Boston Marathon together for a number of years, along with her friend Cheryl Shaw.

Her friends, family and dancers knew her as a Disney aficionado, who often held Disney-themed recitals over the years. She also collected Disney character memorabilia and traveled most years to Disneyworld for her yearly fix of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and of course, Tinkerbell. She and her daughters participated in many of Disneyworld’s half-marathons along with their friends, Cheryl and Ashley Shaw.

She looked forward to summers at the Town Beach, eventually working there with her daughters and her grandchildren. She worked there as a teenager, and returned as a lifeguard as her daughters grew up, becoming the director.

But above all, she loved her family and watching her grandchildren grow up, often attending their activities and events to cheer them on.

She leaves her daughter, Elizabeth Simeone, her son-in-law, Keith Simeone, her grandchildren, Ethan and Paige Gengler and Cole and Mason Keefer, her son-in-law, Jon Keefer, her brother, Herbert Nass, her sister-in-law Patricia Nass, and her nieces and nephew.

She is predeceased by her daughter, Catie Keefer, and her parents, Genevieve and Herbert Nass.