Hazlet Resident Nancy A. Longo Dies at 88

Obituary Courtesy Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home

Nancy A. Longo, 88, of Hazlet, New Jersey died peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 after a year-long battle with COPD.  Widow of Leonard P. Longo, who died in 2012, she is survived by her three children, Karen Longo & Joanne Schaffer of Hazlet and Leonard J. Longo of Carrollton, GA; her son-in-law, “Coach John” Schaffer of Hazlet; and her four grandchildren, Chris Miller & his wife, Jade, of Lakewood, NJ, Emily & Olivia Schaffer of Hazlet and Sofia Longo of Carrollton, GA. 

Born Nancy Bernardi in Boonton, NJ, where she and Leonard both grew up, Nancy was the second oldest of four siblings.  Her older brother, Stanley Bernardi & younger sister, Florence “Bubby” Hofele are both deceased but she is survived by her younger brother, Michael Bernardi, his wife Janet and their children and grandchildren in Florida.

During the 40 years Leonard worked for JCP&L, Nancy spent most of her time as a homemaker maintaining a very, clean house, cooking family dinners and driving her children & their friends around.  However, Nancy also had a few paying jobs: working when she was a young woman at International Paper Company in Boonton; and later, after the children were in school, at Charles of the Ritz in Holmdel, and at the Holiday Inn in Hazlet where she proudly worked as a housekeeper, so the rooms at the inn would be as clean as her home.  After his retirement, Nancy & Leonard spent more than 20 years travelling, including numerous bus trips and cruises sponsored by St. Mary’s in Middletown (where Nancy met her best friend, MaryAnn Raynis of Matawan).

Throughout life, Nancy had two major “likes”:  the sun & food, both of which brought her many admirers.  The sun gave her a great tan for which she always received compliments from both friends & strangers; and the food brought her many new friends who worked and/or dined at her favorite local places, especially Park Place Diner in Matawan.  Nancy A. Longo was a true matriarch who will be missed by all.

Nancy will be reposing at the Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home 1735 Rt 35 Middletown, New Jersey 07748 on Sunday February 23, 2014 from 4-8pm. Prayer service will be in Funeral Home at 7pm. Entombment will take place Monday morning at Holmdel Cemetery at 10:30am.