Nancy Jean Nordlof

01/29/1947 - 11/17/2022

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Obituary For Nancy Jean Nordlof

Nancy Jean Nordlof, 75, of Rockford, passed away on November 17, 2022, in U.W. Health-Swedish American Hospital after a brief illness. Born January 29, 1947, in Rockford, Illinois, the youngest daughter of Elsie and Arnold Pagander. Nancy graduated from West High School and lived most of her life in Rockford, Illinois. She worked at Mattison Machine Works, where she met the love of her life Jerry Nordlof. They were married on January 31st, 1986. Nancy worked at Rockford Health Systems for several years and at Rockford Orthopedic Appliance before retiring to care for her Mother, Elsie, at home. Nancy was a fun-loving social person who loved getting dressed up and going out to dinner with family. She enjoyed the spontaneity and freedom of being able to jump in the corvette or hop on the Harley Davidson with Jerry and explore the open road. Nancy was a former member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and a member of Sarah's Circle. She was blessed to have many lifelong friends with whom she stayed in contact. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her family will miss her greatly but cherish the memories of special Christmases, picnics at Lake Summerset, and Friday movie nights at her house.

Survivors include her son James (Jimmy) Rieker of San Francisco, California; stepdaughter Victoria (Sam) Montalbano Jr. and stepson Erik Nordlof, of Rockford; 3 Grandchildren, Tiffany (Paul) Bravo of Palm Springs, California; Nolan Montalbano and Seth Montalbano of Rockford, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband Jerry Nordlof by 5 days; her parents; daughter Victoria Harris; her sisters Eleanor Barbor and Pat Bloomquist and her beloved dog Harley.

Services will be held at 1 pm, December 17, 2022, in Tony Gasparini Funerals and Cremations, 6825 Weaver Road, Rockford, Illinois 61114, with Father William Wentink officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 12 pm to 1 pm. Memorials may be made to the family.

Services

17 Dec

Visitation

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

Tony Gasparini Funerals and Cremations 6825 Weaver Rd. Rockford, IL 61114 Get Directions »
17 Dec

Funeral Service

01:00 PM

Tony Gasparini Funerals and Cremations 6825 Weaver Rd. Rockford, IL 61114 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • 12/29/2022

    A message from Sweden. (I hope this isn't inappropriate.): My great-grandfather and Nancy's grandmother (Elsie's mother, Nanny Goranson 1882-1968) were siblings. Nanny left Sweden in 1902. I got in touch with some of her descendants in 1997 and with Nancy in 2000 and I did visit Nancy a weekend in June 2000. Unfortunately, we did not stay in touch thereafter. When I booked my next visit to Rockford in 2008, I did not wait for an answer from Nancy and it turned out she and Jerry were out of town that weekend. But November 24 this year I sent Nancy a letter. December 18 I got a message from her niece Lori telling me that Nancy had died. December 19 I found this page. A memory from my visit 22 years ago that fondly came to mind now was how Nancy asked me about a phrase in Swedish her grandmother used to say to her when looking after her as a small kid. To Nancy it was just a stream of sound and at first it was nonsense to me as well, but as I asked Nancy to repeat it over and over again, after a while I was able to decode: "Du språkar så mycket, tokiga unge" and translate, "You speak so much, crazy kid", which amused Jerry. The grandmother said this with a smile, of course. All of her grandchildren talked about the kindness of their grandparents. I also remember how there was always Leksands knäckebröd and pickled herring on the Nordlofs' kitchen table. / Olov Andersson

  • 12/16/2022

    We have been friends for 68 years. Nancy loved life , has great sence for humor. And one of the most generous people I have known. She never quit bragging about all her children. She so proud of all of them. We love you and miss you. Shirley Suess

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