Nancy M. "Miller" Vellucci

Nancy Marlene (Miller) Vellucci, 81, a lifelong resident of Somerville, Mass., until a September 2025 move to Knoxville, Tennessee, to be with family, died January 27, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

She leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 60 years Vincent (Vinny) P. Vellucci, their daughter Amy J. (Vellucci) Keller and grandsons Samuel A. Keller, 20, and Jackson V. Keller, 22, all of Knoxville, TN; a niece and her husband Laurie (Dunphy) and John Allen, of Billerica, Mass.; and nephew Doug Dunphy and partner Lisa Avery, of Medford, Mass. She was predeceased by son-in-law Jack K. Keller, her parents Alexander and Alma (Tremblay) Miller, and her sister and brother-in-law Sandra (Miller) and William Dunphy.

Nancy was a graduate of Somerville High School and Boston State College, where she studied to become a school teacher. She taught elementary school briefly until leaving to give birth to her only child, her daughter Amy, and became a stay-at-home mom after that.

She was a homebody, happiest in her house caring for her cats and tending to her garden. She enjoyed frequent trips with her husband to a local nursery to buy flowers and plants. Her backyard garden won awards. One of her favorite memories was of her toddler grandsons helping water her garden.

Her oldest grandson, Jackson, had a dairy allergy he didn't outgrow until he was a teenager, and she used to make dairy-free cakes, other baked goods and pizza for him. She was the only babysitter her daughter and son-in-law trusted because she was always mindful of his allergies and vigilant about keeping her grandsons safe.

She was an animal lover and had adopted many cats. She had cats almost her entire life.

She loved decorating her home and meticulously cleaning it. Her daughter used to tell people her mother's home was so clean you could eat off the floors and that was hardly hyperbole.

Together since they were 15-year-old high school sweethearts, Nancy and her husband lived downstairs from her parents for many years. The entire family ate dinner at the same table every night. She enjoyed having her parents upstairs from her.

Nancy was her father's primary caregiver for a long time before he finally went to live in a nursing home a few months before he passed at 100 years old.

To say she was the love of Vinny's life is a gross understatement. He did everything for her and, of course, he was by her side until she left us.

The family will have a private memorial service. Donations may be made to the charitable Alzheimer's organization of your choice.