Nancy Carlson

Nancy Carlson, 94, of Southington, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026, surrounded by the family she loved. Born Nancy Hinkley on a summer morning in 1932, Nancy grew up alongside her sisters, Marylou, Janette, and Betteanne. Together, the four sisters were known around town simply as “The Hinkley Girls” — a name that followed them through the years and spoke to the close-knit family and community that shaped her life.

Nancy spent her life making things — paintings that filled her walls, clothes that filled her closets, and a home that always felt full. A gifted artist, she found joy in creating and shared that creativity freely with the people around her. For decades, Nancy waited tables with a smile that made regulars feel like family. She worked hard, loved deeply, and never stopped loving a good time — a dance floor, a loud laugh, a story that went on a little too long. She sewed for everyone — costumes, clothes, mended jeans, and whatever else someone brought her way. She helped raise her grandchildren with those same steady hands, teaching them to paint, to cook, and most importantly, to show up for the people they love.

And Nancy loved the sun. Her family was convinced that she was solar powered. She could often be found sitting in its warmth, soaking it in, and somehow that description suited her perfectly — bright, warm, and happiest when surrounded by the things and people she loved.

Nancy is survived by her sister Marylou, niece Pam, son, Mike and his wife, Kim; her grandchildren, Nena, Corinna, Makayla and Mallory; and her great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Trey and Travis. She was predeceased by her son, Brian.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you paint something, laugh loudly, sew a button back on, or simply sit in the sun for a while in her memory.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a date to be announced. Plantsville Funeral Home has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.