Birth date: Aug 17, 1957 Death date: Mar 8, 2025
Nanci Lee Santelli passed away surrounded by friends & family at Tacoma General Hospital on Saturday, March 08, 2025. Nanci was born in Tacoma, WA on August 17, 1957, to Mario & Dorothy Santelli. She was one of 5 children and grew Read Obituary
My godmother Nanci I will miss her so much trying to think of just one memory to pin down as a favorite is hard to do I have known her my entire life and have thought about all the wonderful memories we made throughout it. From road trips to Yakima in her Z car blasting Jackson 5 to trips to Noni's lake house and visiting the human society to look at the animals which I absolutely loved and would be so excited for as a child. Or the story of Santa Kitty she made up and would tell me and I would ask her to say it again and again. One memory that stands out to me is the day Carlo was born she came and got me and was telling me how much he looked like Crystal and how big he was and I will never forget the next part... I wish I could let a story the way she did. She looked at me and said you will never believe it he can talk. I said what do you mean she said he looked around the room and said hi and she said she looked at everyone else and asked the nurse did u hear that he just said hi and she said yes the nurses agreed she said not only does he look like a doll but he can talk. She was so proud to tell that story I love and miss her so much.
Nanci
Nearly 30 years of memories with this beautiful woman. She took me into her home, loved me like a daughter, and showed me tough love at a time when I needed it. And although we didn't always see eye to eye, that didn't keep her from caring for my children and being a mother to then when I couldn't. I Thank her especially for being such a strong influence in Clover's life. The love and experiences she raised her with have shaped her into the woman she is today and I know that Nanci was so, so proud of her, I know I am. My heart is aching especially for Clover as she's learning to move forward without her here. Nanci was her everything, her entire world 💔
I'm really gonna miss all her crazy stories. She had the best imagination and told the best stories. And made up the best songs 😂 One of my favorites was:
🎶 "We're riding on a pony, we're going to see Nonie. Shes making macaroni, for dessert there is spumoni. Carlo's in the front, Clover's in the back."
My favorite memories with Nanci weren't elaborate adventures, but just a ride to the humane society to look at all the animals and a taco bell run on the way back home. Or running to Pao's for donuts and coming back to her apartment to watch desperate housewives or some random TLC show. I'll miss her phone calls and how she adored baby Cash. The holidays and birthday parties won't be the same without "old grandma" there, and we will never stop talking about her. She was a pillar in our lives, and I'm grateful for all our memories.
I hope thats she's hugging our sons up there in heaven. I know how deeply she missed Carlo and Adam. The only thing bringing me any kind of peace is knowing she is no longer in pain and reunited with them. Rest in peace, Nanci. You were loved 🤍
I will always remember our friendship over the last 40 years. I will always remember our trip to Las Vegas where these pictures were taken at the Wax Museum. I will always remember your smile and the loving way that you cared for your son Adam and just how much you missed him and Carlos your grandson. I will never forget how much love you had for your grandkids Kari , Clover, Carlos and Amiya and great grandson Cash. I will never forget the love you had for all the friends you had. I will always cherish the time that I got to spoil and care for you befor your neck surgery and all the repeats on TLC that we had to watch or the probably 50 times I had to walk you through the TV remote LOL we sure had a lot of funny times. I will miss you my friend and will always keep you in my heart pocket. I know your heart is happy to be with Adam and Carlos. As I've always said to you every time I left the apartment
" I love you mission meatball say goodbye dear"
Save me a chair so we can reminisce when I get there.
