NANCY SIDOTE LIDONNI
MAY 18, 1929 - APRIL 26, 2016

NANCY was the last child born into the lives of Rose and Joseph Sidote in Wappingers Falls, in beautiful upstate New York in 1929 the year the depression hit. They lived a simple life on the farm with their large, close knit family when they welcomed baby Nancy. Despite the tough times they were living in, Joseph was a good father and provider to his wife and six children. He worked all day at farming and also gave music lessons in their home to make sure there was always food on the table for his family. Both he and his wife Rose nurtured them with love and educated them in the importance of family values, loving God, and how to appreciate all those things that money could not buy. These good parents and family laid the strong foundation of the Nancy that was a BLESSING to so many throughout her life. She always enjoyed trips with her sister Grace to the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec, Canada.


Nancy loved her hometown and after she graduated from Wappingers Falls High School, she worked as a bank teller until she left in 1954 to achieve her most precious dream of becoming a wife and mother. In 1954 she married a handsome, soft spoken Air Force serviceman who served during World War II named Frank LiDonni. Frank moved his new bride from the country to the city and soon they were able to buy a home in Brooklyn, New York where they lived all their lives together. That was the home where they raised their two daughters Kathleen Anne and their second daughter Carol Marie. Nancy loved being a wife and mother and showed it by tending to every need and paying close attention to every detail of her family.


She would say, "I live for my family, to make them happy." And if anyone knew the meaning of family, it was Nancy. She loved being involved with all the happenings with her much loved parents, three sisters, two brothers, many nieces, nephews and cousins back in Wappingers Falls, Long Island, California, Connecticut, Michigan, Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Australia and Italy. Phone calls were very expensive back then but postage was cheap, so her overstuffed card file was always updated and at the ready to send off thoughtfully written cards and letters to all her family, including her husband's family and neighbors and friends for every occasion, birthdays or holidays or little notes with words of encouragement if she found out that someone was having a bad time. Nancy was one of those rare people who was so interested in others, that they could never forget her or the love they felt when they were with her. She was always thinking about what kindness she could show someone. A card, a visit, a meal, a small gift were all in her arsenal of good works. Her great faith in God made her the woman she was. People who knew her might hear, "Oh dear, I saw this and thought of you, I hope you can use it." or "I was at the bakery buying some Italian cookies and they looked so good, I thought you would like a few." or "I bought my daughters chocolates and I thought your children might enjoy them too." Another thing that was so special about Nancy was that she was the same way with everyone, whether they were a grocery bag packer or a king, Nancy gave them all the same respect and kindness she learned as a young girl. They just don't make them like her any more.


Frank and Nancy would have celebrated their 62th Wedding Anniversary in June. Frank worked for many years in Electronics and he loved to build electronics at home. Nancy was constantly competing with the latest equipment, transistors and electronic gadgets for the better part of their life together, but she never complained. As a matter of fact, she became her husband's apprentice as they gained fame for hosting their yearly "Block Party," most recently held last summer.

If you wanted to find Frank and Nancy on a Friday or Saturday night, all you had to do was go to their living room to find them loudly cheering for their favorite Pro Wrestlers. They were long time wrestling fans, so much so that Nancy knew all the wrestlers names, their techniques and favorite holds. If you wanted to find them on a Sunday, you would find them faithfully serving at Blessed Sacrament Church on Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn, where they have been active members for 60 years. Frank still serves as an Usher there at age 93.


When her children remember their mother, they will no doubt recognize her fingerprint on them when they are kind, thoughtful and selfless. She always went out of her way to help anyone, whether it was convenient or not. She taught us all that actions speak louder than words as she practiced her deep faith in God and supported the community where she lived.

Nancy's brothers, Joseph and Anthony and her sisters, Grace, Jennie and Rose were always in her heart and unfortunately she suffered each loss as she was the last to go. But now with her passing, the family is re-united once again. She is survived by her loving husband Frank, her daughters Kathy Carlson and Carol Stretmoyer, their husbands Bill Carlson and Ted Stretmoyer, her grandchildren Billy Carlson, 21 and Erika Carlson 14 of Queens, NY, numerous nieces and nephews living across many states and her sister-in-law Clara LiDonni of Natick, MA. Nancy enjoyed her life and loved to have a good time. She was always ready to go with the flow and see the best side of everything. Nancy once said, "We have to be grateful for every day, because if we are still here, God must have a good reason, RIGHT?" She taught us to be grateful and to be kind to ourselves and others and to always look on the bright side of things. What better example on how to live life could we have had than Nancy? She will be sorely missed by family, friends, and neighbors

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