Danielle Renae Nance

is honored with a Large Paver from Sean Nance (husband) & Aiden Nance (son)

Danielle was born on October 21, 1987 in Wichita, Kansas to her incredible parents, Kurt and Tracy Hamm. She was 1 of 3 children, along with her brother, Trenton, and her sister, Victoria.

A majority of her youth was spent involved with her passion: musical theater. Danielle participated in musical theater through East High School and Music Theater for Young People (MTYP). She even spent a few months performing professionally in Sevierville, Tennessee in 2006.

Shortly after moving back from Tennessee, Danielle met her husband, Sean, in May of 2007. They were engaged in 2008 and married on March 14, 2009 in the Historic Augusta Theater in Augusta, Kansas.

Her only child, Aiden, was born on June 1, 2010 and she often referred to him as her "beautiful, prized possession". Danielle was also diagnosed with advanced stage liver cancer on this day. The doctors gave her 6 months to live, but she fought 4 ½ more years and inspired us all.

Throughout Danielle’s last 4 ½ years, she fought hard to survive and continued to be the most amazing mother and wife you would have ever met. She would never complain about the procedures, the side effects, or the stress of raising a family in the midst of her illness. It amazed the faculty, family, and friends that she was able to complete her Elementary Education degree from Wichita State in the midst of her treatments. She even completed coursework sitting in a hospital bed at KU Medical Center in Kansas City.

Danielle went on to teach 3 plus years for Wichita Public Schools (USD 259). She taught at Gammon Elementary for 2 years and Ortiz Elementary for a little over 1 year. She spent a year each in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. Not only did she teach the future generations how to read, write, and solve math problems, but she taught us all life lessons that you don’t find in a textbook.

Also, Danielle was a strong woman of faith and wanted everyone to know about the love that Jesus Christ has for all of us. She brought many people, friends and strangers, to know the Lord because of how she lived her life in the midst of life’s storms. She most recently attended First Church of the Nazarene in Wichita, where Danielle also attended church as a youth. She touched many lives within the church and those hearing her story were inspired to live a life changed for the better.

Danielle passed away in the early morning hours of December 18, 2014. Her husband laid at her side and her mother held her hand as she entered Eternal Life. It was snowing with the biggest and most beautiful snowflakes that morning, which served as a reminder of the beautiful life that she lived.

Anyone who ever met Danielle or heard her story was amazed at how she could carry on with all the burdens that life had laid upon her. She did carry on, and she did so joyfully. She overcame all that life could throw at her, and did not let a disease define her. This is why she was, is, and always will be a heroine to her family and many more that have been blessed by her story!

Donated on behalf of Sean Nance (husband), Aiden Nance (son), and all those who were inspired by this beautiful woman we were honored to know and love.