Nancy Ericke Ambrose of Edgartown died peacefully early Monday evening, July 5, after a tough fight with cancer. Nancy died surrounded by her three children, at the home of her son William, where she had been compassionately cared for during the final month of her struggle.

She moved to Edgartown in 1992 with her husband, Edwin Ambrose, following four years living in the southern African country, Botswana. Wherever she lived, Nancy became involved in her community. In Edgartown, Nancy was a trustee and longtime volunteer for the Edgartown Public Library, where she passionately supported development of a new library. She also volunteered for many years at the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Polly Hill Arboretum, and she was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club. When she was not volunteering, Nancy gardened, transforming her homes into floral sculptures.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Feb. 17, 1931. The elder of two children, she grew up in Detroit, Mich., graduating from the University of Michigan in 1952. Soon after marrying Ed, they moved to Darien, Conn., where she lived for 25 years. Among her activities there, she was deputy registrar of voters for the Democratic party, and she spent countless hours working for Darien Book Aid, which collected donated books and sent them to underdeveloped countries.

She is survived by her three children: Sarah Ambrose of Maynard, William Ambrose of Acton and his wife Amy Davis, and their daughter Emily and son Whitney, and Robert Ambrose of Talkeetna, Ala., and his two sons Nico and Corey. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ed, who died in March 2009.

Following a private interment on Saturday, July 10, at the Westside Cemetery in Edgartown, there will be a reception for friends and family, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Nancy’s home in Edgartown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s name to the Edgartown Library Foundation, P.O. Box 1198, Edgartown, MA 02539.