Nancy Brown Turla's Obituary
Nancy Brown Turla, age 94, of Gainesville, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, surrounded by her children. She was born on October 22, 1931, in Isabela City, Basilan, Philippines, to Leroy and Felisa (Strong) Brown. Nancy followed her passion for service by enrolling at St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Manila, Philippines, where she became a Registered Nurse. In 1957, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to continue her nursing career, and it was there that she met her future husband, Dr. Benjamin Santos Turla.
After welcoming their first child in 1960, Nancy and Ben returned to the Philippines to continue growing their family. In 1965, they relocated to Washington DC and, as a young family of six, eventually settled in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, in 1968. They instilled in their daughter and three sons an appreciation for art, literature, comedy, sports, travel, and—most importantly—a commitment to family unity. As Nancy and Ben expressed, “Take care of each other. Live life to the fullest. Kick it up a notch!”
Alongside her roles as a devoted wife, mother, and friend, Nancy worked part-time as a nurse. She also honed her artistic abilities by making jewelry, decorating eggs with decoupage, and crafting 3D paper tole art. Nancy loved bringing together her family and friends for gatherings, marking every event with plenty of delicious food (masarap mali num num!) and joyful laughter. She showed her enthusiasm for life by always ordering dessert before anything else.
In 1988, Nancy and Ben retired to Port St. Lucie, Florida. They enjoyed connecting with friends and family nearby, as well as welcoming relatives who traveled from different parts of the country and from the Philippines. Their passion for travel led them to explore nearly every state and national park across the nation. In addition, they went on cruises that took them to numerous countries throughout the world.
Following Ben’s passing in 2014, Nancy relocated to Gainesville, Florida, to be near family. She continued to embrace life with warmth, compassion, and humor, providing comfort and inspiration to those she met. Through her gentle guidance, Nancy taught her family lasting values of kindness and resilience (Materiales Fuertes!). Nancy is lovingly remembered by her children: Mila Harrison (Jeff), Carlos Turla (Terry), Noel Turla, and Chris Turla (Jenniver); her seven cherished grandchildren: Elisa, Armand, Trevor, Taylor, Ben, Quinn, and Ronan; and her brother, Richard Brown. Nancy’s legacy of unconditional love, integrity, and generosity lives on through each of them. Mahal kita.
A memorial service honoring the life of Nancy will take place on February 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, located at 823 NW 143rd St., Newberry, Florida 32669. A guest reception will follow the service.
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