Nancy Ortolano

Nancy Ortolano passed away on October 16, 2026, at the age of 93. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, she will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who knew and loved her.

Nancy was born on July 19, 1933, in Buffalo, New York, to Providenzia Palmari and Joseph DeFrancesco. She was the youngest of eight children and a graduate of Grover Cleveland High School in Buffalo. A longtime Buffalo resident, she relocated with her family to Henderson, Nevada, in 1979.

Nancy was married to her high school sweetheart, John M. Ortolano, for 62 years before his passing.

Nancy was a wonderful, proud, hardworking, kind, God-loving woman who treasured her Italian heritage. She expressed her love through the meals she prepared and the family she gathered around her table. She cherished Sunday dinners, taking special care to prepare everyone’s favorite dishes and bring the family together. Her table was a place of warmth, laughter, and shared stories, where there was always room for one more. Those meals were more than a family tradition—they were her way of making each person feel loved. Her family will forever treasure the memories made around her table and carry on the love and traditions she so generously shared.

Nancy is survived by her children and their spouses, Mike and Dee, Jay and Kelly, and Sue and Lisa ; her grandchildren, Nicholas, Jeremy, Ariana, Steven, Noah, and Gianni; and her great-grandchildren, Lexi and Valentino.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Providenzia and Joseph; her beloved husband, John; her siblings, Chuck, Tony, Alfonso, Sam, Joseph Jr., Mary, and Rosa; her son, Stephen; and her grandson, Jacob.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on November 21, 2026, at La Paloma Funeral Services, 5450 Stephanie Street, Las Vegas, NV 89122. Guests may arrive after 9:15 a.m., with the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Her love lives on in the family she cherished and the memories they share.