Breaking the hearts of family and friends, Nancy Marie Jordan (formerly Leone) of Southington passed away on Nov. 17, 2021. She was 72.
Nancy Jordan, 72, passed away Nov. 17. Her funeral will be on Monday, Nov. 29.
Known for her fierce determination, deep love for family and friends, and quick wit, Nancy was born on March 20, 1949 in Norwalk, following her sister Patricia (formerly Leone) Pollak of Norwalk by six years.
Eda (formerly Principe) and Anthony Leone named Nancy after her great-grandmother. The Leones could count on their daughter for her strong will, quiet intelligence, and quick smile.
Nancy met the love of her life, Darien classmate and Vietnam Veteran, Airman Richard Alan Jordan, while working at the local grocery. These high school sweethearts would marry on Sept. 26, 1970, and after the birth of their son, Jeremy Christopher (March 31, 1972), moved to Brookfield.
It was there that daughter Rebecca Carina (June 8, 1975) was born. The Jordans made Brookfield their home until 2007, when they moved to Southington to be closer to grandchildren.
Nancy was known to friends as a self-starter, independently deciding to study in New York City at what is now the Wood Tobe-Coburn School. A consummate professional, Nancy would continue to model for her daughter the strength and temerity required for women to succeed professionally in scientific industries.
While her work colleagues and friends could rely on Nancy for a laugh, cry, and everything in between, those who knew her well recall the love and caregiving that, to her, came naturally.
This tendency to take care of those around her was well-known to her close friend and sister, Patricia, and her brother-in-law, Gerald, and of course to her husband Richard, her children and their friends.
Indeed, Nancy charmed many babies and children (and puppies), and her smile was infectious. Though Nancy’s smile always met the twinkle in her eye, she was not one to tolerate sass.
Known for her excellent cooking, she was prone to turn her wooden spoon in chase of her mischievous children; who would always return for family traditions such as lasagna, meatballs, and pizza.
These foods would become family staples and frequent request of her favorite young people — her grandchildren, Cara Marie (20) and Christopher Richard (18) born to Jeremy and his wife, Karen Jordan, and Lucas Jefferson (9) born to Rebecca Jordan and husband David Howe.
A devout Catholic, Nancy was extremely proud of both her religious and Italian heritage. She kept in touch with numerous friends and cousins through the years often saving pictures of their children and grandchildren.
Nancy, who was quite observant and intelligent (although she would disagree in her self-deprecating way), was continually engaged in professional training, including college courses, and established an excellent career in supply forecast planning.
It was her personal endeavors, volunteering at church events, taking care of grandchildren and family, and spending time adventuring and sharing a laugh with Richard that brought her the most joy.
In addition to her own children, Nancy leaves behind Patricia’s children, whom she loved as her own (Anthony and Gerald), and their wives and children as well as the many nieces and nephews and in-laws from Richard’s side of the family.
Her strong spirit, warm soul, and acerbic wit will never be matched. While her loss devastates family and friends, after 57 years together, she leaves Richard without his soul-mate. It is with deep consolation that her heart and generous soul lives on in the lives of all she met who were left better after knowing her.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 at the Josephine Bakhita Church, St. Elizabeth campus , 280 Brook St., Rocky Hill. Interment will be at a later date. Friends are invited the the Brooklawn Funeral Home 511 Brook St., Rocky Hill, Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
— an obituary from Brooklawn Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left