Nancy G Fay

Nancy Catherine (Galone) Fay, age 77, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, at Ashby Ponds Senior Living Facility in Ashburn, Virginia.

Nancy was born in Lackawanna, New York, and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Lt. Col. Andy Galone and Catherine (Lyden) Galone, and the sister of Neil Galone, who survives her. Neil was married to the late Patricia (Weber) Galone.

From a young age, Nancy’s outgoing personality and creative spirit were unmistakable. Inspired by her childhood idol, Annette Funicello, she would often perform for friends and family—an early sign of the joy and humor she would bring to so many. She attended Catholic schools in Pittsburgh and proudly served as head cheerleader at Vincentian High School. Nancy earned her associate degree from Robert Morris College, then began working at Koppers Inc., where she met Dan R. Fay. The two were married on January 31, 1970, in Pittsburgh.

Together, Nancy and Dan built a life that spanned many states—North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Illinois, Texas, and back to Pittsburgh in 1984. In 2002, they moved to Pompano Beach, Florida, and later to Leesburg, Florida, where Dan passed away in 2008. Through each move, Nancy brought warmth, humor, and creativity into the home.

Nancy was a devoted mother to her daughters, Mary Beth (Fay) Pratt and Diann (Fay) Rocha, and loving mother-in-law to Jeffrey R. Pratt and Carlos Rocha, and she poured her heart into being a grandmother. She deeply cherished Daniel James Pratt (22), Alicia Cecilia Rocha (20), Augustin Ramon Rocha (18), and Jonah Reed Pratt (17). She shared laughs, shopping trips, sporting events, and heartfelt conversations with each of them—and took immense pride in the people they are becoming.

Nancy had a lifelong love of music, teaching piano lessons and later working as an administrative assistant. She was deeply involved in church ministries, especially in music, children's programs, and Bible studies. Her final church home was St. John the Apostle in Leesburg, Virginia, where her faith remained strong and active.

She also had a great love for animals, particularly cats—often joking that she marked time by how many cats she’d had. Nancy loved to travel, especially to Florida, and to visit friends and family across the country. She found peace near the water and joy in life’s simple pleasures. Known for being fun-loving, kind, and supportive, she was often the last to arrive and the last to leave—always savoring time with others. Her creativity showed in the complimentary poems she wrote for friends and

family—funny, thoughtful, and always from the heart. In addition to her poetry, Nancy authored numerous articles for Heartland Boating Magazine. She and her husband Dan were longtime boat owners, enjoying the water both in Pittsburgh and in Florida—reflecting her deep love of the outdoors and adventure.

Later in life, Nancy took a courageous and fulfilling step in connecting with her birth family. Adopted at birth, she located and met several half-siblings and developed a particularly close relationship with her half-nephew, David Adams, who cared for Nancy’s birth mother, Cecilia, in her final days. Though she never met her biological parents, Nancy was deeply grateful for the connections she made. She and Neil, both adopted from Our Lady of Victory in Lackawanna, remained close throughout her life—a bond rooted in shared beginnings and sustained by love.

We welcome all who knew and loved Nancy to attend a Celebration of Life on August 2 at 12 noon at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 101 Oakcrest Manor Dr. NE, Leesburg, VA 20176.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, Virginia at brhospice.org.

Nancy will be deeply missed—she meant so much to so many people. We take comfort in knowing she is with Jesus and reunited with her husband Dan and others who have gone before her.