A graveside committal service for Nola April Mank Metcalf, 65, who passed away February 3, 2022, after a long and courageous seventeen-year battle with ovarian cancer, will be held Friday June 17, 2022, at 10 a.m., at Fairview Cemetery, Patterson Mill Road, Warren.

All are invited to a memorial gathering beginning at 4 p.m. on that same day (Friday, June 17) at the American Flatbread Company, 399 Commercial Street, Rockport.

To share a memory or story with Nola’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

WARREN — Nola April Mank Metcalf, 65, passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022, after a long and courageous seventeen-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her three loving children at the time.

Born in Rockland, October 18, 1956, she was the daughter of Harlow M. and Elizabeth Robinson Mank. Nola was a lifelong Warren resident and member of the 2nd Congregational Church of Warren. She was educated in local schools and was a 1975 graduate of Medomak Valley High. She attended nursing school at University of Maine, Augusta, graduating in 1980.

Nola was a beloved Mother, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Great Aunt, and FRIEND. She devoted her entire life to caring for others, whether working as a nurse or helping friends or family. She would drop anything she was doing to help anyone. She was very active in her community focusing on the welfare of children, volunteering much of her time inspecting and installing car seats properly.

She became a registered nurse in March 1980 and served for 44 years as a devoted OB/GYN nurse at Pen Bay Medical Center until her retirement in October 2021. Prior to this, she was a licensed EMT with both Warren
and Camden Ambulance Services. Her passion was in caring for mothers in labor and neonatal newborns, often accompanying them by ambulance to Boston or Portland; once even while 8.5 months pregnant herself. 

She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, including but not limited to: Sandi Curtis, Peggy Salminen, Deb Peabody, Dee Lavoie, Liz Cooney, Holly Tracy, and many more; some whom she spoke to on the phone daily. One of the most important people in her life was her father, Harlow Mank. He was her role model and she spent as much time as she could with him working on projects, playing games, or spending time together until his passing in 2013.

When she was not caring for others, she enjoyed looking for shells at the beach, rock painting, laughing with her friends and family in her gazebo, and spending time with her children. In her adult life, one of her greatest hobbies was tracking her family’s genealogy dating back to the early 17th Century.  

Nola turned the negative influence of cancer into a positive one through her passionate involvement with Turning The Tides Ovarian Cancer Retreats and her cancer support group. She enjoyed helping other cancer survivors and fighters through their battles, and particularly helping newly diagnosed people facing cancer treatments.

Nola was pre-deceased by her parents. She is survived by her daughter Kyle Elizabeth Hawes; son, Elijah Thomas Metcalf and his wife Cynthia Manzano; and daughter Annika Quinn Metcalf and her fiancé Christopher James Anca; sisters Melody Sainio and Aleta Mank; brothers Kirby Mank and Stuart Mank; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and extended family members. 

Relatives and friends are invited to visit Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

A Celebration of Nola’s Life will be held Friday, at 1 p.m., at Second Congregational Church, 252 Main Street, Warren. The Rev. Bette Bond will officiate. A reception will follow at the church. Please feel welcome to wear whatever you feel comfortable in, including bright colors Nola enjoyed such as neon orange and lime green.

For those unable to attend in person, a live-stream of Nola’s service will be available on her book of memories at www.bchfh.com. Please follow the link under Photos & Videos Tab then Watch Webcast. To share a memory or story with Nola’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Nola’s name to: Turning-the-Tide Ovarian Cancer Retreats c/o M. Mastrangelo, 4 East Commons Drive., Hadley, MA 01035.