Nancy Theresa Lamanna

Nancy Theresa Lamanna

1930 - 1924

Nancy Teresa Lamanna, beloved mother, grandmother, and daughter of Christ, died Saturday, March 16th at the age of 93.

A service will be held on Monday, March 25th at Mother Seton Parish in Germantown, MD at 10:30AM followed by a reception.

Nancy was born on October 7th, 1930, in Webster, the daughter of John and Stasia (Jablonski) Wawrzyniak. The youngest of three children, Nancy had a close relationship with her sister Loretta and brother Henry. She graduated from St. Joseph Parochial School and Bartlett High School, but not before causing plenty of mischief.

Nancy attended Nursing School, after which she spent time in New York City working and going ice skating and dancing with the group of young nurses she lived with and called friends. It was one of these nights out dancing that she met her future husband, Lawrence Lamanna. An active serviceman, Lawrence made her laugh that night, she’d later recall, and that compelled the two to write to one another until he returned from his posting in Germany. They were married in 1956.

In 1957, the two welcomed their first son, Peter and then Lawrence (Larry) in 1959. Thomas (Tom) completed the Lamanna family in 1961 after Nancy went into labor and delivered him at home with the help of a police officer named Tom.

Nancy raised her three children in Long Island across the street from a couple that would prove to be lifelong friends for Nancy and the family- Nettie and Robino. She developed a repertoire of sewing, baking, and cooking that she used to delight friends and neighbors. Her passion for sewing would never leave her and would provide friends through her later years.

At the age of 65, Nancy began her next chapter, leaving her life in Long Island for Maryland. Here she lived in a senior living facility and began attending sewing classes at the Benjamin Gaither Center in Gaithersburg, MD. The senior center was a source of joy and connection for Nancy, as she attended her beloved sewing classes until the month before her passing.

Nancy, or “Nana”, was a devoted grandmother, priding herself in taking care of Madison with a walk everyday and never being without a snack for the insatiable little girl, always on the move. She brought Madison to school activities, softball games, movies with friends, and had her over for sleepovers where the two would eat goulash and watch dog movies, Nancy’s favorite.

Nancy became Nana to nearly everyone she met. She had a magnetic sweetness that endeared anyone whose path crossed with hers. She was mild mannered when she had to be and devastatingly funny when she ought not to be. Her sharp wit never dulled, even when dementia challenged her other faculties.

Tom cared for Nancy for the last 13 years of her life, seeing her through cancer radiation treatment, a global pandemic, and the debilitating disease that is Alzheimers. Until her last days, she enjoyed sewing, doing puzzles, and watching Lifetime movies- but there was nothing she loved more than her morning coffee and sweet treat.

Nancy is survived by sons Peter Lamanna (Lai) and Tom Lamanna and granddaughters Madison Shea, Lily Anna, Serena, and Donata. She is preceded in death by her son Lawrence, and siblings Loretta and Henry.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the life of our beloved Nancy on our dedicated memorial page at www.InterFaithFunerals.com. Please take a moment to share your cherished memories, kind words, and/or photographs in honor of their legacy. Your condolences, stories, and pictures will be cherished by the family and will provide comfort during this difficult time.

Memorial service information will be announced soon.

Care entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a., 124 E Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 301-495-4950, www.InterFaithFunerals.com.