Nancy Zarra (Kramer) Conti, age 75, passed on unexpectedly on March 9, 2021 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born the eldest of seven children to Edward and Kathryn (Schwab) Kramer on November 10, 1945 in Bellevue, Pennsylvania.
She graduated from Quaker Valley High School in 1963 and wanted to become a nurse in order to always be able to care for her beloved parents. She graduated as Registered Nurse from Sewickley Valley Hospital School of Nursing in 1966. Nancy met James Conti on a blind date set up by her good friend and married him on July 5, 1966. She went on to become a most devoted mother to her two children, Keith and Michelle, and later just as devoted a grandmother to her grandson, Jesse.
After her children were grown, she returned to nursing and continued in her career until her passing. Nancy dedicated her life to her family. Her footprints will forever remain across our hearts. She found great purpose in looking out for those she loved and dedicated her life to do just that. She would routinely gather piles and piles of articles, customized for each of her brothers, sisters, children, nieces and nephews, as to what she felt each would find helpful, and hand them out at Christmastime. She had a goal, when she became a mother, of being the kind of mom her children could talk to about anything. And she always was exactly that. Even though her children grew and flew far from her nest (far too far for Nancy’s liking, but she never clipped their wings), she remained always the first, and very often the only, person they called upon when they needed love, support, compassion, understanding, a listening ear, a wise voice, a gentle hand, a devotion and the unwavering knowledge that someone — their most beloved mom — was absolutely and always there for them.
Nancy devoted her later years still to her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and children and was filled with joy to carve out another place in her heart for her grandson. She became a rock for him, too, many long-distance nights telling him to look up at the moon and know she was right there, looking at the very same moon.
Mother, grandmother, daughter, sister — Nancy defined herself through these roles, and she approached each with purpose and devotion. We, those she loved and held closest, have certainly been blessed beyond words for her presence in our lives. And we will forever miss her and hold her in our hearts. Nancy is survived by her son and daughter: Keith and Michelle Conti; and by her grandson: Jesse Reichenbach. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters: David and Doyle Kramer, Kathryn (Kristine Kramer) Swaney, Sheryl (Kramer) Massey, Sharon (Kramer) Saunders, and Kandace Kramer. A viewing will be held in her honor at Richard D. Cole Funeral Home, Inc. in Sewickley, followed by procession to her resting place at Sewickley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers (Nancy was always much too practical for flowers because they would last only so long), the family would ask for meal arrangements to sustain and nourish them through this devastating time.