Nancy (Henderson) Doherty, of Cohasset, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and one of God's most intelligent, witty, and stubborn Scots, passed away peacefully on March 2 after a brief illness. She was 90 years old.
Nancy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to South Boston when she was three years old. With her mother, Elizabeth, she sailed from Liverpool on the Cunard Line's R. M. S. Samaria to her father, Benjamin, who was waiting for her in South Boston. She loved growing up on Savin Hill, sneaking off to enter beauty contests, going to Boston Latin School for Girls, and attending Boston University.
When she was twenty years old, she took a job at Hugo's on Cohasset Harbor. There she met the love of her life, the handsome and even more dry witted John Doherty. They spent many afternoons riding their bicycles all over Cohasset. Together they had four children and ran the Scituate Cabin from the late 1940's until 1968, where Nancy, as hostess, managed the dining room and John, as the chef, managed the kitchen. The family lived behind the restaurant. During that time their family expanded to include many Cabin staffers, as well as regular customers and Music Circus celebrities. In their time off, Nancy and John loved to spend their days at Sandy and Minot Beaches. John predeceased her in 1977.
After Scituate Cabin, Nancy went to work for Walter Hall Real Estate, later Relocation Resources, where she worked as Walter Hall's secretary/assistant until she was into her eighties; and where, at seventy, she overcame her initial refusal and quickly learned how to use a computer, eventually becoming quite proficient. She spent her free time reading and gardening.
Every year she hosted an Easter brunch for her children and grandchildren. By the time she had great-grandchildren, the event moved to her daughter's house where Nancy held a chair as the honorary host, presiding over the day's events, which grew from Easter egg hunts and backyard wiffle ball to the Amazing Egg Race.
Her cherished daughter Judi predeceased Nancy in 2003. She leaves behind two daughters; Bonnie and Fred Delay of Hingham; Leah and Hap Pompeo of Cohasset; and her son John and Kathy (Fitch) of Kennebunk, Maine. She was a beloved grandmother to Tim (Kristen), Michael (Martha), Katie, Tara (Rich), Kristin (Tom), Lyn, Dan (Tisha), Brian, Frank (Gayle), Sean, Scott, and Nick. She was great-grandmother to Timmy, Kevin, Charlie, Ryan, Maggie, Sage, Ben, Madilyn, Christian, Mia, Johnny, Sienna, Luca, Ella, and Gabriel, all of whom share her love of a good pun, and sometimes even a bad one.

For eternity, twice baked potatoes, Scituate kite extravaganzas, and an occasional sip of cheap scotch will be a minute portion of "Neena's" legacy. Those who loved her for being the glue will remember her eternally.
Her family is grateful to the remarkable, compassionate staff at Harbor House in Hingham, who made Nancy feel right at home, comfortable, and most of all, happy. We extend to them a very heartfelt Thank You!

Visiting hours

Visiting hours will be on Monday, March 7th from 9-11 am in the McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St., Cohasset.

Gifts in Nancy's memory can be made to the Harbor House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, c/o Activities Fund, 11 Condito Rd , Hingham MA, 02043; or the Friends of the Cohasset Public Library, 35 Ripley Rd, Cohasset, MA, 02025.

Service Information

A Funeral service at 11am.
Interment Woodside Cemetery, Cohasset.