Nancy Ann Scoglio Fichera, age 85 years, of Marco Island, FL and Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, entered eternal life peacefully on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 in the Hospice Care Center of Vitas Healthcare, Naples, FL, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on July 14, 1932 in New York City, NY, daughter of the late Vincent and Anna Theresa (nee: Taddeo) Scoglio, she was raised in New York and spent much of her early life living in Brooklyn, NY. In 1963 the family moved to Staten Island, NY where her children were raised and they spent many wonderful years prior to moving to New Jersey and later, Florida.

A graduate of St. Anthony High School, Greenwich Village, NY, Nancy attributed her approach to living a happy life to the nuns who taught her not just standard high school subjects, but more importantly about how one could find faith in their own way, all rooted in being a humble servant to the Lord.

Nancy was the oldest of eight siblings, and much fell on her shoulders growing up to make certain her family could navigate the waters of a post-depression era followed by a World War. She did without through most of her formative years to ensure that others were taken care of; instead of letting this experience make her see the world in a negative light, Nancy’s strong faith allowed her to power through the tough times while continuously uplifting all those around her.

This woman of grace and compassion never stopped being that person who anyone could turn to in any situation. Family, friends, and even strangers, all were equal in Nancy’s eyes. She simply loved unconditionally and gave selflessly to all. Her motherly love knew no boundaries and she would especially want to be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Nancy believed that all people had good in them, and she was always determined to help people live up to their individual potential. Again, rooted in her catholic faith, she was never judgmental and always walked the walk of the the word and advice she spoke about. She, along with her beloved husband, Pasquale, always believed that people deserved second chances and was the ultimate encourager and advocate for her family and for those things that she held near to her heart. This is illustrated by the countless years of volunteer work she did for the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation as well as all of her children’s activities and projects as they grew up.

She also formed, upon the death of her husband in 2015, the “South Seas Sorority” in the Marco Island community in which she lived. This group of widows would get together every two weeks for lunch or dinner for the sole purpose of helping to support one another through fellowship and love.

Prior to becoming a homemaker, which was a full time job as she helped raise her large family, Nancy had worked for CBS during her younger years as a bookkeeper, meeting celebrities such as Walter Cronkite and other television personalities. From a young age, Nancy always enjoyed Hollywood movies and Broadway productions. Growing up extremely poor, Nancy was able to escape and learn about the world while seeing movies for a nickel as a young girl and this sparked her desire to see and experience all that Life had to offer.

Following her marriage, she assisted Pasquale as he began his business in the basement of the families’ home in Brooklyn, NY. During those early years, Nancy not only took care of the home, but also helped with the bookkeeping of F & G Heating Co., which would go on to become one of New York’s most respected and trusted businesses and that legacy continues to this day.

An avid traveler, Nancy, Pat and their family enjoyed to travel and experience new cultures. She was a people person, and made friends around the world. Nancy’s memory was extraordinary, and she was known to never forget a birthday, anniversary or other important date in someone’s life. If you knew her, you were most likely the recipient of one of her handwritten notes or cards which she sent in the hopes of brightening someone’s day and inspiring hope and love in their heart. Essentially, connecting with people was her ultimate hobby and she did it in a way that many can learn from to make this world a better place.

Known for her cooking, there was not many things which she could not make, but the real point of the meal was to gather family and friends together to live ‘Life’ to the fullest. In trying to sum up the life of this remarkable woman, she would want to be remembered as a humble servant of God, who tried to live each day to the fullest and spread peace and love to all those she came in contact with. If that is the measure of success, it will surely be said of Nancy Ann Fichera that she indeed, succeeded.

She was preceded in death by her cherished husband of sixty-two years, Pasquale S. “Pat, The Captain” Fichera, with whom she joined hands in marriage on October 4, 1953 in Brooklyn, NY. The two had a true equal partnership that set the bar high and inspired others to try and have a relationship like they had. Simply put, they respected each other and loved the other unconditionally.

In addition to Pat and her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Salvatore, Anthony and Vincent Scoglio; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Arthur Ostermann, Dr. Anthony Giardina, Joseph Murach and Jeannie Scoglio Deva; her son-in-law, Kenny Smith; and her grandchildren, Kelly and Kristen Smith.

Surviving are her children and their spouses, Salvatore and Valerie Fichera of Franklin Lakes, NJ, Marie and John Siller of Flemington, NJ, Patti Smith of Stewartsville, NJ and Vincent and Lorraine Fichera of Mahwah, NJ; her grandchildren, Danielle, Marc, Jason and his wife, Amy, Rachael and her longtime partner, Jeff, John Patrick and his fiancé, Erin, Meghan, Vincent and his wife, Elizabeth, Sarah, Melissa, Samantha, Robert and Madison; her great grandchildren, Joshua, Elliana, Finnegan, Melina, Shaelynn, Andalcio, Devine, Debi and Monique; her siblings, Marie McClure, Anne Giardina, Millie Murach and Joe Scoglio; her sister-in-law, Karen Scoglio; many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family; and many dear friends.

The family would like to extend a very since thanks to the selfless compassion shown to Nancy and her family by all the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff who tended to their every need during Nancy’s final days on Earth as she heard the words from Timothy 4:7-8 and went home to the arms of her loving God, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Msgr. Randall J. Vashon on Friday, February 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, 316 Old Allerton Road, Annandale, NJ under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Committal prayers and burial with her beloved Pat will follow at 1:00 p.m. in Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY.

Nancy will lie in repose on Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. and on Friday, February 9, 2018 from 8:45-9:15 am. at the funeral home, where family and friends are invited to help celebrate the life of this faithful and kindhearted soul.

Please visit Nancy’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where you can light a memorial candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in her memory and honor are asked to do so to the Staten Island Chapter of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, 16B Dreyer Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314. 

Finally, Nancy would want to leave you with this quote by Mary Lee Hall, hoping that you find not sadness in her death, but rather hope and strength for the future, “If I should die and leave you here awhile, be not like others sore undone, who keep silent vigils by the silent dust and weep. For my sake, turn again to life and smile, nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do that which will comfort other souls than thine; Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine, and I, perchance, may therein comfort you.” _________________________________________________________________________

Wright & Ford, your local, family owned and operated “Life Celebration Home”