NANCY WRENN OGBURN (September 16, 1926 - June 5, 2015) Born in Manoa Valley and passed away at her home in Honolulu, Nancy was the daughter of Heaton L. Wrenn, Sr. and Carolene Cooke Wrenn, and the great-great-grand daughter of missionaries Amos Starr and Juliette Montague Cooke, who founded the Chief's Children's School in 1840 to educate Hawaii's royal children. Nancy graduated with honors from Punahou School's great wartime Class of 1944, to whom she delivered an inspiring graduation speech titled "War and Science." Later graduating from Wellesley College, Nancy majored in Botany, not only for her love of plants, but also because she missed Hawaii and longed to breathe the warm and fragrant air of the greenhouses. In 1948 Nancy married Hugh G. Petersen, Jr. in Honolulu, where they lived for several years before moving to Connecticut to raise their four children. She later married Hugh B. Ogburn, PhD, father of Margaret M. Berenson and Scott A. Ogburn. In 1979 Nancy and Hugh Ogburn returned to live in Honolulu. Nancy was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend, widely loved and respected for her grace, perseverance and unique sense of humor. Her green eyes twinkled, and her ready smile lit up any room. Throughout her life and her ultimate fight against lung cancer, she maintained a vibrant eagerness for life and all it had to offer. Always a competitive spirit, her friends could often find her at a Bridge table. She excelled at tennis, and cultivated an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport. While in Connecticut, Nancy worked as a travel agent specializing in Hawaii and the Pacific. She taught English to Japanese nationals, and sustained relationships with her former students for many decades. She led horticultural tours at various arboretums across the US, and guided walking tours of downtown Honolulu. Nancy was an enthusiastic member of the Garden Club of America, the Greenwich Garden Club and the Garden Club of Honolulu. A master horticulturist, she received many awards on the national level, including The Medal of Merit. She was twice awarded the Garden Club of America Certificate of Merit for most outstanding horticultural exhibit. Nancy won many other local awards in both Greenwich and Honolulu. In Connecticut she specialized in growing and exhibiting Narcissi, winning the esteemed "Lady Ramsey" antique trophy for three distinct years. Later while living in Honolulu, she won the prestigious Elizabeth Platt Corning Medal twice, for her spectacular ferns: an award reserved for only the most difficult entries, and only those shown at major national flower shows. Nancy travelled the country as a horticulture judge. Nancy belonged to the Pacific Club and to the Daughters of Hawaii as a devoted Life Member. A patron of the arts and historical education, she consistently supported the Hawaiian Mission Houses and the Honolulu Museum of Art, which was founded by her great-grandmother Anna Charlotte Rice Cooke upon the family homestead. Nancy is survived by her sister, Carolene W. "Makanui" Kahlbaum; her children, Hugh G. (Judy) Petersen III, Suzanne E. Petersen, Montague C. Petersen, and Alexander W. (Beth) Petersen; her four grandchildren, Elise C. Anderson, Ashley E. Petersen, Andrew R. Anderson, and Alexander M. Petersen; and many dear friends. Gathering: 5:00 p.m. July 10 at Hawaiian Mission Houses. Services: 5:30 p.m. Reception to follow. Aloha attire. Donations can be made to Daughters of Hawaii, Hawaiian Mission Houses, the Honolulu Museum of Art, Punahou School or Hospice Hawaii.
NANCY WRENN OGBURN (September 16, 1926 - June 5, 2015) Born in Manoa Valley and passed away at her home in Honolulu, Nancy was the daughter of Heaton L. Wrenn, Sr. and Carolene Cooke Wrenn, and the great-great-grand daughter of missionaries Amos Starr and Juliette Montague Cooke, who founded the Chief's Children's School in 1840 to educate Hawaii's royal children. Nancy graduated with honors from Punahou School's great wartime Class of 1944, to whom she delivered an inspiring graduation speech titled "War and Science." Later graduating from Wellesley College, Nancy majored in Botany, not only for her love of plants, but also because she missed Hawaii and longed to breathe the warm and fragrant air of the greenhouses. In 1948 Nancy married Hugh G. Petersen, Jr. in Honolulu, where they lived for several years before moving to Connecticut to raise their four children. She later married Hugh B. Ogburn, PhD, father of Margaret M. Berenson and Scott A. Ogburn. In 1979 Nancy and Hugh Ogburn returned to live in Honolulu. Nancy was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend, widely loved and respected for her grace, perseverance and unique sense of humor. Her green eyes twinkled, and her ready smile lit up any room. Throughout her life and her ultimate fight against lung cancer, she maintained a vibrant eagerness for life and all it had to offer. Always a competitive spirit, her friends could often find her at a Bridge table. She excelled at tennis, and cultivated an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport. While in Connecticut, Nancy worked as a travel agent specializing in Hawaii and the Pacific. She taught English to Japanese nationals, and sustained relationships with her former students for many decades. She led horticultural tours at various arboretums across the US, and guided walking tours of downtown Honolulu. Nancy was an enthusiastic member of the Garden Club of America, the Greenwich Garden Club and the Garden Club of Honolulu. A master horticulturist, she received many awards on the national level, including The Medal of Merit. She was twice awarded the Garden Club of America Certificate of Merit for most outstanding horticultural exhibit. Nancy won many other local awards in both Greenwich and Honolulu. In Connecticut she specialized in growing and exhibiting Narcissi, winning the esteemed "Lady Ramsey" antique trophy for three distinct years. Later while living in Honolulu, she won the prestigious Elizabeth Platt Corning Medal twice, for her spectacular ferns: an award reserved for only the most difficult entries, and only those shown at major national flower shows. Nancy travelled the country as a horticulture judge. Nancy belonged to the Pacific Club and to the Daughters of Hawaii as a devoted Life Member. A patron of the arts and historical education, she consistently supported the Hawaiian Mission Houses and the Honolulu Museum of Art, which was founded by her great-grandmother Anna Charlotte Rice Cooke upon the family homestead. Nancy is survived by her sister, Carolene W. "Makanui" Kahlbaum; her children, Hugh G. (Judy) Petersen III, Suzanne E. Petersen, Montague C. Petersen, and Alexander W. (Beth) Petersen; her four grandchildren, Elise C. Anderson, Ashley E. Petersen, Andrew R. Anderson, and Alexander M. Petersen; and many dear friends. Gathering: 5:00 p.m. July 10 at Hawaiian Mission Houses. Services: 5:30 p.m. Reception to follow. Aloha attire. Donations can be made to Daughters of Hawaii, Hawaiian Mission Houses, the Honolulu Museum of Art, Punahou School or Hospice Hawaii.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
