Mary Frances (Herley) Nardone

1924 - 2016

Mary Frances (Herley) Nardone, age 92, died at her home on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 surrounded by her family. She was the wife of 70 years of Henry J.Nardone who survives her. She was born in Lynchburg, Va., March 25, 1924, the daughter of Thomas J.Herley and Susie Frances (Wilkinson) Herley. She had lived in Westerly since 1952. She was the valedictorian of the class of 1941 of The Holy Cross Academy in Lynchburg. She married Henry J.Nardone, an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on Oct. 2, 1945 and spent the first ten years of their marriage as a navy wife. Their final duty station was as the Officer of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding at Groton, Conn. This allowed them to settle in Westerly, R.I., Henry's birthplace and the home of the Nardone family. A genuine Southern lady of charm and grace, she was known to her friends by her childhood nickname "Boots".
Her survivors include her children, Henry J., Jr and his wife, Barbara, of Florida, Michael A.Nardone, William A.Nardone, Esq. and his wife, Diane, Robert Herley Nardone and his wife, Patricia, and her daughter, Andrea Frances Nardone, all of Westerly. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Henry J. Nardone III and his wife, Linda, Jennifer (Nardone) McDonald and her husband, Brian, Zenia(Nardone) Morrone and her husband, Brian, Heather Pescatello and her husband, Mark Zagol, Michaela (Nardone) Miceli and her husband, Anthony, Alexandra, Robert , Christopher, Nicholas, Madison and William Chase Nardone. She also leaves nine great-grandchildren and is survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Joseph, John, Maurice, Thomas and William Herley and her sisters, Henrietta (Herley) Nardone and Kathryn (Herley) Morrison.
Mrs. Nardone was proud of her Irish roots and her Virginia heritage. Her maternal ancestors, the Hancock family, settled in Virginia in the early 18th century and were successful tobacco agriculturalists in Chesterfield County for many years. Her ancestor, Colonel Woodson Wingfield Hancock served in the U.S. Army and in the Virginia State Legislature in the mid 19th century. She was a Daughter of the Confederacy. Her maternal grandfather, Captain Charles Henry Wilkinson, served in the Confederate States Army, during the War Between the States. Her paternal great-grandfather, Michael McLaughlin was born in County Longford, Ireland and immigrated to the United States, settling in Lynchburg in 1839 where he became a prominent contractor. He served in the Virgina Militia during the War Between the States.
She had been a longtime member of The Seaside Beach Club where she spent many delightful summers with friends and family. Mrs. Nardone was a volunteer at The Westerly Hospital for more than thirty years and was also a corporator of the hospital. She was a longtime member of the hospital auxillary and a strong participant in hospital philanthropy. She was a trustee of the University of Rhode Island Foundation and the Rhode Island College Foundation and was an active participant in development and philanthropy at Rhode Island College, which she adopted as her "alma mater". She took special pride in The Performing Arts Center and was the originator of the plan to name it The John Nazarian Performing Arts Center in honor of the president of the college, and accomplished musician and her dear friend.
In recognition of her support of the renovation of Green Hall at URI, a major entrance was named the "Boots Entrance". Her continued efforts and support of URI were further recognized when a connecting walkway between the Engineering Buildings was named in her honor. Along with her husband she was a founder of the C.C.D at the Immaculate Conception Church where she was a parishioner. In 2011 she was awarded the St. Edmund's Medal of Honor which recognized her "life of virtue" in the Spirit of St. Edmund.
The family would like to express its love and gratitude to Dr. Robert E. Fox and caregivers, Toni Boss, Beverly Jimno and Jean Martin, who provided loving and dedicated care to Mrs. Nardone during her Illness.
Visiting hours will be held at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main Street, Westerly, on Sunday, April 24, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church, High Street, Westerly on Monday, April 25, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at The River Bend Cemetery in Westerly. Donations may be made in her memory to St. Edmund's Retreat-Ender's Island or the Westerly Hospital Foundation.