Nancy DeFurio

Nancy C. Defurio, 79, of Indiana, Pa., passed away peacefully Saturday at home surrounded by her family. She fought a long and courageous battle with cancer for the past two and one half years.

Nancy was the daughter of Charles N. Neigh and Mary (McCarron) Neigh. She was born in 1936 in Butler.

Nancy has lived in Indiana for the past 46 years. She enjoyed a successful professional career as a legal secretary, executive secretary for the dean of instruction (Provost's) office and staff at Edinboro University, and at Indiana University of Pennsylvania served as the office manager for the faculty union, APSCUF with distinction, for 26 years until retirement in May of 2001.

Nancy led an exemplary life evidenced by an unconditional love and unselfish devotion for her family and friends. In the mid-1980s, she and her family traveled throughout the United States initially by way of a travel trailer and later in six different Winnebago motorhomes. She and her husband visited most of the lower 48 states and Alaska. Upon retirement in 2001, she found welcome relief from winter weather through extended stays in Florida and California.

Nancy particularly loved the beauty and awesome power of the ocean. She spent long periods walking or sitting in contemplation along the uncrowded and solitary expanses of beach near the ocean. The voice of the sea spoke directly to her heart, mind and soul. The Atlantic and Pacific oceans held her in a close, tender and loving embrace.

The arrival of spring found Nancy engaged in the planting of flowers and gardening around her home. A profusion of colors and a perfumed air surrounded her home throughout each spring and summer.

Friends and family are quick to note that Nancy was an enthusiastic and dedicated sports fan. She enjoyed attending sporting events at all levels; professional, collegiate or local events. That included everything from Pirates, Steelers, Penguins, IUP football and basketball, local high school contests and sporting events ranging from tennis, golf, soccer, Super Bowl games, the World Series, March Madness, to the national championships in college football. Many have quipped that visiting her home was akin to being in a sports bar.

However, her most passionate love relative to sports was focused on the exploits and participation of her sons, daughters and grandchildren on local teams involving baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming, girl's fast pitch softball and wrestling. Across the past three years, despite being quite ill, she tried to attend every local sporting event involving her three younger grandchildren. Additionally, she was exceedingly proud of the meritorious academic success of her three older grandchildren.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 56 years, Anthony G. of Indiana; two sons, Anthony C. of Castle Rock, Colo., and Ken and his wife, Tracey, of Butler; two daughters, Mary Beth Brown and her husband, Michael, of Lower Burrell and Amy Dougherty and her husband, Patrick, of Indiana; six grandchildren, Alison DeFurio of Butler, Anthony A. and Gabriella DeFurio of Miami, Fla., Morgan Brown of Lower Burrell and Garrison and Charleigh Dougherty of Indiana; sisters, Charlotte Neigh of Bovey, Minn., Beth Reed and her husband, William, of Fenelton; and the family Labrador Retriever, “Shadow.”

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents.

DEFURIO — Friends of Nancy C. Defurio, who died Saturday, May 9, 2015, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Bowser-Minich FuneralHome, Indiana.A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana.Interment will be in the St. Bernard Cemetery, Indiana.Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice, Indiana, the Palliative Care Program of the Butler Health System or the charity of one's choice.