Nancy Stoller Axelrod

September 11, 1952 – January 13, 2026

Ashland resident Nancy (Stoller) Axelrod passed away on the evening of January 13th at her home with Howard Axelrod, her life partner and husband of 34 years by her side. Nancy was born in Boston, MA and graduated from the prestigious Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University. As a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, she practiced for 10 years at various rehabilitation facilities in the Boston area before becoming the first Pediatric Occupational Therapist hired by the Lowell School System in Lowell, Massachusetts. She practiced there for 35 years. Nancy was held in high esteem by her colleagues and was known for her intelligence, intuitiveness, exceptional technical and creative skills, and her caring support of her young clients. During her career she helped over 2,000 children and their parents live better lives.  Pediatric Occupational Therapy was more than a career for Nancy. It was where her heart took her, and she derived great personal satisfaction from being to help children and their families.

Nancy loved international travel, art, music, foreign films, literature, intimate coffee shops and cafes, antique shops, flea markets, flowers, and playing mahjong with "the girls." She derived great pleasure from her beautiful garden and the many different birds and butterflies it attracted. Along with her husband, she wintered for the last 10 years in coastal Florida where she enjoyed the ocean and company of many friends. She and Howard were perennial volunteers at the Delray Beach Arts Garage.

As an intrepid traveler she visited over 85 countries on 6 continents including many exotic nations. Morocco, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Tibet, Myanmar, Egypt, Easter Island, China, and Japan, and were among her many favorites. She and Howard also traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America, and the African continent, as well as their favorite destination, Southeast Asia. She enjoyed seeing the beautiful wonders of the planet, meeting new people, and learning about their history, culture, and lifestyles.

Nancy courageously battled stage 4 pancreatic cancer for 10 months before succumbing to this deadly disease. She is survived by her husband Howard, her brother Randy Stoller of Delray Beach, FL, her brother and sister-in law James and Sharon Stoller of Fall River, MA, her sister and brother-in-law Carol and Jim Eaton of Ocean Breeze, FL, her niece Nikki Dugan of Ft. Meyers, FL, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Marian and Shari Barasch and her niece and nephew Maxine and Branden Barasch of Albany, NY.

Nancy was a beautiful, vibrant, generous, and loving woman who made friends easily, and touched the hearts of all she met. She had many friends in the MetroWest area and derived great pleasure from their company during her illness. She was a wonderful and loving wife, daughter, and sister. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.

A Celebration of Life (date and venue to be determined) will be held in 2027 in her honor.

In lieu of flowers, donations to either the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) or the Seena Magowitz Foundation are suggested.