On Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, Nanette “Nan” Johnson passed away peacefully at her home in San Diego, due to complications from metastatic breast cancer at the age of 62.
Nan was the type of person that touched people and people’s lives. Anyone that came in contact with her felt a special connection with her. She was kind, compassionate, thoughtful and loved life.
Nan was born on Dec. 5, 1958, in Rocky River, Ohio, to parents Hal and Aggie Fausnaugh. She studied liberal arts at the College of Wooster in Ohio and received her master of business administration from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California (now Middlebury Institute of International Studies).
She dedicated over 30 years in the medical field in San Diego at a variety of institutions, from small private practices to large medical centers. Nan was the executive director for five years at the innovative, integrative health center of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.
For the last 16 years of her career, Nan found her calling in hospice and end-of-life care. She aspired to be a leader who inspired and provided clear direction. Nan and her spouse Connie Villa were together for 26 years and shared love for their dogs, travel, photography, meditation, writing and for supporting philanthropic causes.
Through it all, Nan had a lifelong passion to explore spirituality in its various forms and took workshops and retreats with different wisdom teachers. Her book, Legacy of Love, is a culmination of what she learned along the way.
Nan is survived by her spouse, Connie, and their dog Gus, Nan’s sister Janine (Bob) Obee of Chautauqua, New York; nieces Courtney (Damian) Delaunay, Karina (Brian) Dolan, Kristen (Keith) Barnet and Marisa (Jindra) Skruzny; nephews Perry (Kim) Obee and Christopher (Olga) O’Brien; as well as great-nieces and -nephews.
This loving family and wonderful friends stood by Nan and Connie through thick and thin.
Connie would like to thank UCSD — Breast Health Center Team for the dedicated and compassionate work they did while Nan was under their care all these years. Similarly, words cannot express how thankful Connie is to LightBridge Hospice and Hospice of Chautauqua for the exceptional care Nan received with them.
It was a true blessing to have such heartfelt compassion and care with these organizations.
A private Celebration of Life is scheduled for September. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made at LightBridge Hospice, Cancer Research Institute, Sonoma Ashram and Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care.
