Nancy Soderberg passed away peacefully at her home (of over 60 years) at the age of 94 on April 5, 2025. Nancy was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She grew up in the family home in Grant Park (the only home in that vast park), across from a pond where she learned to ice skate during the cold winters and to swim during the hot summers, becoming highly skilled at both.

After graduating from Marquette University with honors, where she was a member of the Chi-Sigma-Chi sorority, she moved to Honolulu, Hawaii to join her older brother in a more favorable climate and to begin her career in a local hospital as a medical technologist. It is there that she met her first husband, Bob Davis, and the father of her children, Chuck and Jennifer. After getting married in Hawaii, they moved to the Bay Area to take advantage of the educational opportunities available at the University of California, Berkeley.

After college, Nancy furthered her skills by becoming certified in cytotechnology, which expanded her clinical laboratory capabilities. Her clinical laboratory career spanned 30 years during which she worked in various Bay Area hospitals, including Kaiser Oakland, Providence Hospital and Peralta Hospital, both located on “Pill Hill” in Oakland and now part of Summit Medical Center. She also worked from home using her own microscope during her career, directly providing cytotechnology services to several local pathologists.

Nancy married her second husband, Carl Soderberg, in 1981 and welcomed his children, Rick and Nancy, into their family. Nancy and Carl traveled the world together during their 26 years of marriage (Carl passed away in 2007) and enjoyed many social activities, from parties to dancing to quiet evenings with other couples playing bridge. They also carefully tended their backyard garden cultivating colorful flowers and organic vegetables.

Nancy is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Davis and her husband, Charles Schmelzer; and her grandchildren Geoffrey Schmelzer, and Heidi McCray (formerly Schmelzer) and her husband, Montana. Nancy is also survived by her step-children, Richard Soderberg, and his wife, Janice, and their children, Eric and Alex Soderberg, and Nancy Ciukowski (formerly Soderberg). In addition, Nancy is survived by her first husband, Robert (bob) Davis. Of particular note, Nancy was survived by her son, Charles (Chuck) Davis by 23 days (see nearby obituary), who provided in-home care during the final years of her life.

Nancy was a beloved member of the community and will be fondly remembered by all, including Jesse Kelly, her treasured friend and loving caregiver.

In keeping with the love and devotion between mother and son, joint services honoring both Nancy and Chuck will be held at Sunset View Cemetery, 101 Colusa Avenue, El Cerrito, starting at 11 am (please arrive at 10:45 am) on Friday, May 30. Inurnment of Nancy’s ashes will immediately follow at Sunset View.

Guests are then invited to gather in the Chapel at nearby Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley for a service and inurnment of Chuck’s ashes at the Northbrae Columbarium. A catered champagne reception honoring and celebrating mother and son will immediately follow in Haver Hall at Northbrae.

Donations: American Cancer Society (online at donate.cancer.org)

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