long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Born March 30, 1936, in
New Rochelle, NY Nancy was the first child of Lewis John White
and Mary Barbara Bachmann White. Her childhood was spent in
NY, CT and NJ.
Nancy met West Point Cadet, Paul Anthony Merola on a
blind date April 24, 1954. For both of them it was love at first
sight. She was 18 and he was 23. They married there June 6, 1956
at the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity. They had been married
nearly 54 years in 2009 when Paul died of leukemia due to Agent
Orange exposure. She grieved always for his passing.
From 1956 to 1975 Nancy, Paul and their six children
traveled to assignments in Augsburg, Germany; Fort Benning, GA,
Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Monroe, VA, Beaumont, TX and Seoul,
Korea. While Paul served three separate tours to war torn Laos and
Vietnam, Nancy held down the fort as the consummate Army
officer’s wife. Paul’s commanders commented on Nancy’s own
contribution to the military. She and Paul corresponded constantly
by letter whenever they were apart. Upon Paul’s retirement from
the Army in August 1975 they made Austin their home because of
the University of Texas, the evolving high tech job market and the
mild snow free weather. Nancy and Paul loved Central Texas.
Nancy was a loving, intelligent, articulate wife, mother,
grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister and friend to all.
She was the supreme hostess, the life of the party and the matriarch
of her family. Family surrounded her at gatherings and celebrated
holidays, weddings, baptisms, first communions, confirmations,
and graduations with lavish attention. She was the center of her
family. Nancy passed on her Catholic faith to her children and
extended family.
Before children, Nancy’s most prestigious job was as society
editor to the Nutley Sun newspaper. In 1975, as a Master Instructor
in Ikebana Japanese flower arranging, Nancy became the first
Floral Manager and Designer in the brand new HEB Floral
Department and then moved on to Flowers Flowers Inc. Nancy
loved her home and was an avid gardener.
Nancy’s children are Wendy Merola, husband Larry
Sommer, and daughter Jenna Sommer; Allison Lonergan, husband
Jim, and sons Luke and Zachary; Monika Merola, sons Avi and
Dominic Ramos and daughter Cecilia Ramos Keilman; Tod
Merola; Gillian Adams, son Sean and daughter Mimi; Gay
Brennan, husband Bill, son Joseph and daughter Grace.
Nancy’s great grandchildren are Avery, Emmersen and
Maverick; Layla, Liv and Wynn; Pyper and Liam. Sisters and
brothers include, Peter White, Paul White, Lisa Morgan, Mark
White and Barbara White.
Nieces and nephews are Ethan, Paul and Benjamin White;
Laura Morrow; Erin Callahan, Amy Moody; and Lizzie White.
During her entire life, Nancy was dedicated to family, her
faith and learning. She was an avid reader. Our world will never be
the same without her here. She loved flowers, chocolate, shrimp
and Diet Coke.
Visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home in
Pflugerville, Texas on Monday November 25 from 5 PM to 8 PM.
The funeral mass will be at St. Thomas More Catholic Church on
Tuesday November 26 at 10 AM. Interment with Paul will be at a
later date at West Point Cemetery at the United States Military
Academy in NY.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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