Nancy May Harper

Nancy May (Miller) Harper

Please join family & friends to celebrate the life of Nancy M. Harper (née Miller) from

4:00 pm until the time of service at 7:00 pm on Monday, October 13, at

Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville. The brief service

will be conducted by Pastor Kari Nicewander of First Congregational Church UCC, our

family's long-time faith home in Naperville. Interment will be private.

After 91 years during which she and her husband, Bob, raised 5 children, welcomed 13

grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren (so far), Nancy found peace on Monday,

September 29, 2025.

When her kids were young, Nancy dutifully (over-)cooked meat & potatoes for her

husband and kids–unwilling members of the "clean plate club"–and worked hard in and

outside the home. She never hesitated to help family, friends, or neighbors whenever she

saw a need. She and her local sisters, who also had large and growing families, often

shared child rearing duties–it didn't matter if you were a child or a nephew/niece; if you

caused trouble, you got in trouble!

She took her kids to First Congregational Church in Naperville each Sunday and

continued to attend for as long as her health and mobility allowed. We have been

grateful for the Pastor's and congregation's love and prayers, especially during Mom's

final weeks and days.

She grew up a very shy farm girl on the south side of Naperville, the last of 13 children.

Her father, an immigrant from Yugoslavia (now Serbia), died when she was 6 years old.

Many of her older siblings proudly served in the wars and conflicts of the time, leaving

the running of the farm to their mom. As a result, much of the child-rearing of the

younger kids fell largely to an older sister, Marie, who, we're told, got to name her last

little sister. Born in the month of May, Nancy May it was!

Our mom moved into "the city" at the tender age of 15, lived with another of her sisters,

and began working. She met our father, Bob Harper, and when he proposed over the

onion bin at the grocery store where she worked, she accepted and they were married on

October 10, 1953, when she was all of 19 years old. Cue the births in rapid succession of

Steve, Buff, Jeb, and Barb with Alida following 6 years after the last. Oops.

After working in the home as a traditional housewife when the first 4 kids were young,

she eventually began working outside the home as well spending many years at

Naperville Pharmacy and then many more at Russell's Dry Cleaners, from which she

retired (sort of) after 27+ years. She also cleaned houses on the side and became friends

with her cleaning and pet/house-sitting families. She was a consummate wallpaper

hanger, painter, and furniture rearranger, skills she applied in her own home as well as

the homes of family & friends. By example, Nancy taught her children, among many

other things, the value of hard work.

In her younger post-child rearing years, Nancy loved playing softball with Wehrli's

Bloomers on which two of her daughters and two nieces played and one nephew

coached. Post-game at Parkview Pizza often got a little rowdy, usually due to her antics.

After her softball years, Nancy joined a bowling team that traveled the country to

tournaments. She even bowled a number of 200+ games! In her retirement years at

Tabor Hills, to which she moved after Bob died in 2005, she took up Bingo, Wii

Bowling, mall-walking, and many other activities, including the delivery of the weekly

community newsletter.

When her kids became concerned about her ability to continue living alone, our sister,

Barb (aka Lalu), became her weekday caregiver. She and Barb shared so many laughs

and adventures together, including playing over 7,400 games of Sorry! Most

importantly, Barb took great care of Mom for over 7 years. When living independently

became uncomfortable for her 15 months ago, Barb and her family welcomed Mom into

their home so they could ensure her comfort and safety and, ultimately, her final passing.

What a gift of love. (Note: Barb opposes this paragraph but was outvoted.)

Many thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, CNAs, hospice team and other medical

professionals who kept Mom going for the 29 years after her diagnosed liver condition

which should have ended her in 10.

Those who went before her include her husband of 52 years, Bob, her daughter, Buff,

her 12 siblings and all but one of their spouses, a thankfully small number of nieces and

nephews, and most, but not all, of her beloved friends.

Nancy's four remaining children, Steve, Jeb, Barb, and Alida, and their families thank

you for sending up a prayer for her safe passage to the next realm. While Mom could be

strong and gentle, tough and kind, scary and loving, she was feisty, funny, sometimes

salty, and always thoughtful. To know Nancy was to love her and her infectious laugh.

Remember her laughter. We, her family, always will. We love you, Mom!

Monday, October 13, 2025

Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home

516 S. Washington St.

Naperville

4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Time of Service: 7:00 pm