Gift 
Nancy Norvell
After a lifetime of giving to others, it was no surprise that Nancy Norvell made her ultimate gift through her estate plans, leaving more than a million dollars to the charitable organizations she loved most.
"She was very kind and a good friend," says Pat Siemer, who worked with Nancy for many years at the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis. "Everyone who knew Nancy enjoyed seeing her."
But Nancy didn't just love people; she adored animals as well. In 1985 she began volunteering with one of her favorite organizations, the Saint Louis Zoo. Each week she gave countless hours, serving in the gift shop, the welcome desk or the information booth. And, like many volunteers, she consistently gave modest annual gifts to further the Zoo's mission.
Over the span of 20 years, Nancy provided more than 8,000 hours of volunteer service to the Zoo. "She was a quiet but strong advocate for the Zoo," says Elaine Gill, the manager of Volunteer Services at the Zoo during Nancy's service. "Her dedication and her commitment for the Zoo were shown through her time and her professional attitude. Nancy was kindhearted, loving and giving; and she always had a kind word. Her smile would light up the room."
With no family, Nancy looked to friends Pat and Joe Siemer to help with her
final affairs-eventually having Joe (an attorney) assist in writing her will
and naming him as the executor of her estate. While the Siemers had been
close friends of Nancy's for years, even they were unaware of the wealth
she had accumulated. "She did not live a fancy
lifestyle; that was not her nature," Pat explains.
"You find out a lot about people in their final affairs," Joe says. "Nancy loved animals, and I think she loved people who loved animals. She left all of her money to the same causes she believed in and worked for all of her life," with the Zoo receiving 40 percent of her estate. Her love for the Zoo will now live on forever through her generous bequest to the Saint Louis Zoo Association Endowment Fund. Her legacy will live on for years because of her generous and intentional planning.
