Nancy M. Romano

Obituary of Nancy M. Romano

Nancy M. Romano died peacefully in her daughter's arms in the early morning hours of Monday, January 26, 2026, just a couple of weeks shy of her 92nd birthday. She was born, raised, and lived in Rochester, NY for most of her life. She graduated from Madison High School in 1952 where she met and married the love of her life Norman Romano. They were blessed with a daughter.

Nancy's life was marked by resilience and strength as she faced the sudden loss of her beloved husband, leaving her as a single mother to their ten-year-old daughter. With unwavering courage, Nancy stepped into her new role with grace, becoming a personal banker at Central Trust Company and later M&T Bank, where she was respected and admired by colleagues and clients alike.

Nancy's strength in the face of life's challenges was a testament to her deep trust in God and her faith, and she found solace in the church and community. She regularly sang in the folk group at St. James Church.

Nancy lived life to the fullest. She was part of bowling and golf leagues and found joy in ceramics in her earlier days. Her adventurous spirit took her around the globe. She had a tremendous love for the arts attending concerts at the Eastman Theater or plays at Geva Theater. She studied opera and would travel to NYC whenever the opportunity arose to see Broadway shows, concerts, or ballets. She was a classic movie fan and cherished sailing the seas with her daughter on Turner Classic Movie cruises. There she conversed with Robert Osborne himself and legendary movie stars. She was unbeatable at scrabble, trivial pursuit, and Jeopardy which she watched every night. She loved playing cards. Nancy looked forward to working out at the cardiac rehab gym, more so for the camaraderie with fellow rehabbers. She gave her time generously to the Genetaska Club making a difference in her community. She cheered on her beloved Yankees and continued to wear her Yankees hat with pride even when later living in an area outnumbered by Red Sox fans.

Nancy's heart was most fulfilled when she was surrounded by family and friends. She loved her family and loved her friends like family. Her culinary talents were one way she expressed love and caring. The time spent gathered around the table, sharing stories and laughter, will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.

The last chapter of Nancy's life was spent in Connecticut, close to her daughter. Even there, she continued to forge new friendships and maintain her positive influence on those around her. She volunteered, strengthened and nurtured her faith at St. Edmund's Retreat, Enders Island.

As we say, "goodbye for now," to Nancy M. Romano, we celebrate a life beautifully lived. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. She completed her journey as she lived, with grace, an unwavering spirit, a sense of humor and a smile. Her beautiful and radiant smile is imprinted on our hearts, and she will be remembered with love and admiration by all those who were blessed to know her.

Nancy is survived by her sister, a sizeable extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews, special friends, her daughter and her favorite canine companion, Brinkley.

A mass will be celebrated for Nancy on March 21, 2026, at 11:00AM at St. James Church (130 Brett Road, Irondequoit, NY). She will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, (2461 Lake Ave, Rochester, NY).

Donations can be made to Nancy's favorite charities in her memory: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, The American Heart Association, or The Baseball Hall of Fame.