SCARBOROUGH — Nancy M. Hackett, 73, formerly of Portland, died July 16 after a brief illness.

She was born in Providence, R.I., on Aug. 14, 1939, and grew up on Veranda Street, the daughter of the late James and Teresa Sabatino.

She attended Portland Catholic schools and graduated in 1957 from Cathedral High School. She was a “Democrat with a big D,” and a champion bowler before she was affected by bursitis. She was also an animal lover, and always had a dog or cat with her.

Hackett raised two children as a single mother in North Deering while working at the Congress Street Porteous. Later she served as the business manager of Catherine Morrill Day Nursery, where she relentlessly tried to coach her single-mother clients. A tough woman, she had a soft spot for an underdog.

In her later years, Hackett served people who were ill, both as an employee of Comfort Keepers in Scarborough and as a volunteer who provided transportation for people going to cancer treatment. She was diagnosed herself with cancer one month after her recent retirement.

Hackett is survived by a daughter, Dianne “Dee” Ames and her husband Skip, of Springvale; a son, James Sabatino and his partner Michael Rego, of Portland; a sister, Judy Schneider, of New Haven, Conn.; and three grandchildren, Kelli, Kristina and Eric Ames, of Springvale. She is also survived by her favorite aunt, Camilla Vacchiano, and her “growing up” extended family, Joe and Charlie Vacchiano.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House for the care they gave her in the last week of her life.

A gathering for family and friends was held July 21 in Portland.

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