Nancy J. Koerwer

Heaven shone more brightly, and the angels sang more clearly on September 19th, as God welcomed home his wonderful Nancy J. Koerwer. Nancy Thérèse was born to Anne (McGee) and Daniel E. Johnson on August 13th, 1929, in Bridgeport, CT. For many years, Dan was an insurance broker, while Anne was a homemaker who doted on Nancy and her two siblings. They were surrounded by a memorable neighborhood of family and friends and enjoyed a loving childhood. Nancy attended Saint Patrick’s grammar school where she established the foundation for her life-long love of God and prayer that never waned. After graduating from Central High School, she went on to receive a degree in English from Saint Joseph College in Emmitsburg, MD. But before she graduated, Nancy and some of her classmates boarded a “large tugboat” to France and then on to Italy to celebrate the Holy Year of 1950. It was there she caught the eye of a young lieutenant in the US Navy, Thomas J. Koerwer. They married October 3rd, 1953, and had 42 wonderful years together before Tom passed. They initially made their home in Upper Montclair, NJ and lived there for 16 years. In 1969 they moved to Wilton, CT where they lived for 26 years. Together they had seven “perfect” (according to Nance) children. Tom Koerwer of Trenton, NJ, Nancy (Mark) Berry of Chadds Ford, PA, Ellen (Jim) Routh of Naples, FL, Rosemary Koerwer of Austin, TX, Kristina (Goose) Henderson, of Tinton Falls, NJ, Daniel (Cathy) Koerwer of Sudbury, MA and Michelle Higgins of Morristown, NJ. In addition, she had 18 grandchildren Anne, Leah, Colleen, Molly, Dan, Will, Grace, Patrick, Maddie, Isabelle, Hayden, Brendan, Rebecca, Bridget, Ian, Nicki, Charles, and Tess, and 7 great grandchildren. Nancy thought each one of them to be her pride and joy and could brag endlessly of their individualities and accomplishments. Tom & Nancy traveled extensively, taking many trips to Europe and Asia. They enjoyed learning and experiencing different cultures, history, and cuisine. When crossing the border to East Berlin, Nancy listed “Consultant” as her occupation. When back from the communist country, Tom asked why, Nance responded “I consult my children”. Together they built a home on Cape Cod and enjoyed the summers for 40 years. Nancy went to “her” beach each sunny day, to admire the marvels of the sea. When they retired to Naples, FL from Wilton, they threw away their shovels and were happy snowbirds, traveling from one location to the other for a perpetual summer. Nancy loved walks on the Gulf shore as well. She loved everything Irish, except their beer. She was a master of the English language, and all its grammatical structure. She was an excellent resource for crafting an email or term paper. She was a fixture on the dance floor at family weddings. She had an extensive repertoire of show tunes and ditties to complement any subject being discussed. Nobody, including Nancy, will miss Nancy’s cooking. She had some good recipes but failed to find the passion to execute. Living to 94, she had her own Blue Zone Diet. She preferred her eggs in the form of crème brûleé, chocolate was her food pyramid, and she always saved room for ice cream. In addition to her children and grandchildren, Nancy is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Miriam and Tom Curnin of Larchmont, NY, and 19 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother The Reverend Daniel E. Johnson of The Archdiocese of Hartford, CT. Nancy will be laid to rest next to Tom at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA. A funeral mass will be held in her memory on October 9th, 10 a.m. at St. William Catholic Church in Naples, FL. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. William Church. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1978

Nancy J. Koerwer

August 13, 1929 - September 19, 2023