Nancy Johnson

Nancy Johnson of Ilion, NY, age 75, passed away on Tuesday evening November 15, 2022 with her family at her side, after battling complications from a meningioma. She is now at peace in Heaven where our Lord will keep her safe and well. Nancy was born on August 19, 1947 and was the daughter of the late John and Milly Marusic. She graduated from Little Falls High School and Utica Business School. On July 5, 1969 Nancy was united in marriage to William J. Johnson at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Herkimer, NY. Together they shared 53 years of love and so many wonderful memories and moments. They loved being together. She spent several years in the workforce sandwiched around years of being an “at home” mom. Her first job was at the Charles Millar Supply Company in Utica, NY as their first programmer to computerize their business records. She later worked at Bank of America in the Loan Exceptions Department in Utica, retiring in 2005 after Bank of America closed and moved the department. However, being a wonderful mother was her most important “job” and #1 priority. She did that with a guiding hand, compassion and lots of love. Nancy was a very special person – a warm, kind-hearted, wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Nancy was liked by everyone who knew her. She was also a great cook, learning from her mother and especially Grandma Marusic. She published an “Heirloom Christmas Cookies” cookbook which was dedicated to her grandmother’s delicious Czech baking and sold nationwide, including at Disney World in Orlando, FL. Nancy also loved to read. Cookbooks, health and healing, and natural food books to keep her family well were her favorites. She also loved novels, but gave those up when she wasn’t able to put them down and would read through the night to finish them. Her trips abroad with Bill to London/Paris to visit Jennifer, and then later to Italy with Jen and Mark were memorable family times. Nancy is survived by her husband Bill, daughter Jennifer and husband Mark Ries of Arlington, VA; sweet grandchildren Nicholas and Siena Ries; her sister Linda Smith and family of MI; sisters-in-law Marsha Crist of Chippewa Bay, NY and Carol Faville of Fairfield, NY and their families; along with nieces, nephews, several cousins, friends and special neighbors. She was predeceased by her parents, Bill’s parents William and Anne Johnson; and brothers-in-law Joseph Smith, Donald Crist and Dain Faville. Nancy’s family would like to thank the caregivers at St. Lukes, Johns Hopkins and Suburban Hospitals for their care given to Nancy during the past two and a half months. The family would like to thank the staff of the Murphy Funeral Home in Falls Church, VA for their kindness and support with Nancy’s passing. Final arrangements are incomplete and have been entrusted to the Applegate-Day and Enea Family Funeral Home in Ilion, NY. Online notes of sympathy may be left here Please consider memorial contributions to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Herkimer, NY. “She was wonderful…so wonderful. Now beautiful memories are all we know. Our hearts are sad, but only love will show.”