Olga M. "Nancy" Baldassari Bransen

and loving mother of Sandra (Larry) Holt, Sharon (Bill) Bransen Smith, and Walter (Judi) Bransen, Jr. She dearly loved her twelve grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Nancy was born in Chicago on February 5, 1923, to Primo and Ida (Tonelli) Baldassari. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Olga, Gemma (Hanson), and Melba (Hanney). Nancy grew up in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago and graduated from Fenger High School. She married Wally on August 19, 1943, shortly before he left to serve in Europe. During the war, she worked in a machine shop and in a paint factory. Later, after her children were born, she was a full-time homemaker and part-time waitress, precinct captain, cheerleading coach, and traveler. In her 70 years of marriage to Wally, Nancy lived in Harvey, South Holland, and Dolton, Illinois, and in St. John and Munster, Indiana. She was a member of St. Nicholas Church in Munster. Nancy was an avid fan of the White Sox, Blackhawks, Bears, and Bulls, and she bowled in leagues in Illinois and Indiana for 50 years, into her mid-eighties. Nancy was friendly, funny, feisty and fun. Visitation is Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 8178 Cline Avenue, Schererville, Indiana. The funeral service will follow visitation at 11:30 a.m.