Nancy Garza

Nancy Lee Garza nee Summers was born 11 October 1937 in Washington, Indiana. She was the first child of Lodena (Dena) and Kenneth Summers and the older (and patient!) sister to Mary-Jean and Margaret (Micky). Nancy attended St Mary’s Girls High School, graduating in 1955. She then followed her mother into a career with Bell Telecommunications.

Nancy met her future husband, Joe Garza Jr at a USO dance in Indianapolis. Because there is just something about a man in uniform, she married Joe (and made him the most fortunate man in the Midwest) on 21 July 1962. Nancy and Joe had one child, Mark Andrew, in 1969.

Nancy and Joe made the choice to move from Indiana to Virginia in 1973 for career opportunities in Washington DC, settling in Springfield. They stayed in Springfield for many years, braving the East coast winters, with a grit that amazed their Australian daughter-in-law when told the stories of snowstorms and black ice. In 1994, their son Mark started university in Sarasota, Florida. Nancy and Joe made the decision to move to Port Charlotte, Florida in 1995, partly for the warmer weather and partly to keep an eye on Mark. The move to Florida enabled her to stay close to her sister Mary-Jean and her mother Dena. This, in turn, ensured that Micky was constantly on the phone, keeping up with the family stories.

Nancy enjoyed life in Florida, spending much of her time in her garden. This was one of her joys in life, even when faced by a Florida gator casually sunning itself in her yard.

When Mark graduated university, he entered into a career in the film industry that took him all over the US and the world. This was the perfect excuse for Nancy and Joe to start travelling in their later years. They visited Mark in Hawaii, LA, San Francisco and London. She also travelled to Australia in 2015 and again in 2017, for the birth of her first grandchild, Alaine.

In 2011, Nancy sadly lost Joe to cancer, after almost 49 years of marriage. She managed this loss with the incredible love and support of Joe’s extended family in Texas. She then came to Jensen Beach to be closer to Mark, who had returned to Florida after a number of years to care for his father during the final few months of his life. Joined by her future daughter-in-law Sarra, the three of them spent quality years together in Florida and later New York. There’s something about the East Coast and the turning of the autumn leaves that stays in your soul.

As time passed, Nancy came to live at Addington Place in Stuart. She adored getting to know her neighbours and becoming a part of the community. She would tell her family about her life which was fun and rich. She earned this period of rest and relaxation and enjoyed it to it’s fullest!

Nancy was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend. Her family adored her and their lives were better and easier because of her care and love. She is survived by her adoring son Mark, lovely daughter-in-law Sarra and two cheeky, vibrant granddaughters Alaine and Alexandra.

It is not with regret or sorrow that we say farewell to Nancy, but with the comfort that she had a life well lived, filled with amazing experiences and memories that will sustain her family. She will remain forever in our hearts. We love you!