Nancy Difrancesco

Nancy DiFrancesco
Fort Pierce, Florida

Nancy DiFrancesco, 100, passed away in Vero Beach, FL on January 21, 2023.

Ms. DiFrancesco was born in the Bronx, NYC in 1922 to Italian immigrant parents.

Nancy graduated from Evander Childs High School, NYC - Class of 1940. She then went on to
post-high school art training from the home study correspondence courses through the Art Instruction, Inc. program of Minneapolis, MN.

She was blessed with 3 loving brothers and 4 sisters, Nancy (born Annuzziatta) thoroughly enjoyed family. She loved spending time socializing with her siblings and their families: a multitude of nieces and nephews, and great and great-great nieces and nephews. She loved all the hugging and kissing.

Nancy grew up a naturally talented fine artist who worked as a graphic designer at Lederle Laboratories (which eventually became American Cyanamide, then Pfizer Pharmaceuticals). In 1975 she retired early to move to Florida from NJ to provide loving care for her widowed mother, along with the help of her older sister (and best friend), Ann.

Nancy was an excellent seamstress, making her own clothes, and later in life creating beautiful dolls from scratch, painting on sweet faces and making their original, highly detailed clothing by hand. Aunt Nancy excelled in all sorts of arts and crafts, everything from 70s decoupage to seashell art. She was self-taught at everything from heirloom quality Christmas ornaments to cross-stitch to greeting cards.

At family gatherings and holidays, Nancy was the designated dessert and cocktail maker. Her family loved playing games with her, especially Michigan Rummy, Rummy Q and the card game "Golf", which she played even when she turned 100 years old.

For 3 generations of our DiFrancesco family the Fort Pierce Inlet beach was where Nancy spent many hot, sunny Florida days with visiting family, bobbing in the ocean, beach combing and just hanging out together.

When she could, Nancy took the opportunity to travel with her sister and other family: up and down the east coast, on a bus tour to the American Southwest, to Minnesota (“the coldest place on earth!”), to Canada, Mexico, and Italy. She had a zest for life, was blessed with good health and great friends, neighbors and a loving family.

In the last 10 years of her life she needed care, which was generously and sacrificially given by her niece and nephew Barbara and John Hanna, niece NancyAnn DiFrancesco Harris, neighbors Jack and Darlene Coverdale, and of course, much inexpressible gratitude goes to her faithful sister, Ann, who journeyed and shared almost every moment together with Nancy for the past 100 years. Her comfort buddy, Charlie (the cat) very patiently kept her company constantly for the last few years. Nancy's endearing goofiness, happy spirit and ready smile will live on in our hearts!

Nancy was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Park Ridge, NJ and St. Anastasia Church, Ft Pierce, FL.

Survivors include her sisters, Ann (of Fort Pierce, FL) and Gloria (of Tonka Bay, MN). She was
preceded in death by her 3 brothers and 2 sisters: Fanny Merritt, John DiFrancesco, Thomas DiFrancesco, Josephine Centenaro and Joey DiFrancesco.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Notre Dame Mission Church, 217 N. US 1, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950 ndcc217@gmail.com www.notredamecc.com

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, Fort Pierce. Arrangements are under the direction of Haisley Funeral Home, Fort Pierce. An online guest book may be signed at www.haisleyfuneralhome.com