Amanda Louise Montgomery

We are deeply saddened to share the death of Amanda Louse Montgomery, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, and friend. Amanda was born Alice Louise Gamble on March 3rd, 1945. Amanda (then going by Louise) grew up in Salina, KS. She graduated from Salina High School in 1963 and Kansas University in 1967. Following graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Andy Nusbaum, and relocated to New York. There they had two children, Andrea and Zachary, before divorcing in the mid-1980's.

After an early career in early elementary teaching, Amanda studied psychology, earning a certificate in humanistic/transpersonal psychotherapy from Temenos Institute, a Masters in Psychology from Lesley College (both in 1987), as well as a Masters in Social Work from Marywood University in 2000. She worked as a therapist with private clients for decades, as well as in domestic violence prevention support and in hospice care. Amanda was committed to supporting healthy communities, the mental health of her clients, and she was especially passionate in supporting women and children.

After a summertime romance begun at Lake George, Amanda later married George Hanssen in 1991. They moved twice to follow George's calling as a Lutheran minister, first to Syracuse, NY, then to Wyckoff, NJ. Throughout her life she was active in her church communities, as a child, young person, adult, and as a pastor's wife. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, in church choirs and whenever the mood struck. Her spiritual life was an active, contemplative practice, filled with prayer, gratitude, and reverence. She felt a special connection to the Virgin Mary throughout her life's adventures.

In many ways, she was ahead of her time - she started practicing yoga in the 1970's and blazed a path as a single mother in the 80's and 90's, meeting many challenges with grit and determination. She took up running, and ran the NYC marathon in 1989. To honor her independent life and transformation of identity, she changed her name to Amanda in her 40s. She was a voracious reader, loved to hike, practice yoga, and maintained a dedicated meditation practice. Amanda loved to travel - her most cherished adventures were visiting her children during their years' abroad, Andrea in Ghana and Zachary in Nepal. She and George traveled often, annually to Maine in the summer, and they fulfilled a lifelong dream to travel in Israel. Her choices were sometimes unconventional - she held true to herself and blazed her own path, striving for authenticity, connection, and joy - usually with a cat in tow.

Despite her struggle with Alzheimer's, she maintained her characteristic spunk and charm. She loved to laugh and her smile lit up any room she was in. We are grateful for the loving care she received at Rockbridge Senior Home during the last 4 years of her life, where she was a self appointed "manager" and beloved by both staff and residents.

She is preceded in death by her husband George Hanssen, her mother Alice Mae Fleming Clovis, her biological father, and adoptive father Lawrence Clovis.

She is survived by her children, Andrea Louise Dixon, and her husband Banks, and Zachary Andrew Nusbaum, and his wife Kendra Rosa; her grandchildren Miles Banks, Zella Mae Louise, Isadora Jane, and Luana Josete. She is also survived by her sister Mary Becker (Jerry) and cousin Virginia Billings (Bill), along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring her memory and struggle with Alzheimer's with support of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at https://dukeuncadrc.org/