Maria Nance Santore

Maria Nance Santore, age 37, of Cary, North Carolina passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Born on August 5, 1985 in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of Dominick "Nick" Santore and Gail Nance Santore.

The family of Maria will receive friends on Saturday, June 3rd at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, North Carolina, at 1:00 PM for a Celebration of Life. There will be a reception following the celebration at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home. The family would like to encourage friends to wear any color other than black, as Maria was a very bright and loving person.

In addition to her parents, Maria is survived by her sister, Kim Oliver and husband Clay; brother, Tony Santore and wife Brittany; nephews, Owen Oliver and Ben Oliver; and her beloved boxer, Murphy.

Maria was preceded in death by her loving boxer, Belle.

Early in life, Maria quickly forged core memories around the things that would come to define her as a person. From her very first years, summer vacations would be spent at Hatteras, NC. As time went on, those would come to include Emerald Isle, NC and other locations, but Hatteras would always have her heart. It was common for her to seek refuge there, even if only for a day.

At the age of 6 years old, the family would adopt its first boxer puppy. Later in life, the Santore family would come to be multiple households with boxers, with Maria’s being among them. First Belle, and more recently Murphy Bear, she was renowned for her love and devotion to her dogs.

Her earliest exposure to basketball came at roughly the same time. She and her brother both began youth sports together, exploring football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and golf. Ultimately, for Maria, basketball would capture her heart, where her athletic ability and natural talent would shine. First using the neighbor’s hoop, she would quickly have her own in the driveway. Warm summer nights would see the neighborhood playing pickup at the Santore driveway well after sundown, with Maria dominating in the glow of the street lamps. That love would later translate into loyal support of NC State Women’s Basketball. With season tickets, she was a staple in Reynolds Coliseum for home games, and often traveling for nearby away games and tournament play in the spring.

Finally, all those who knew Maria knew her to be the most dedicated, selfless friend they could hope for. This began with her twin brother, as the two were inseparable in their youth. As she forged lifelong relationships, she would develop a pattern of putting others before herself. She was always good for a time out of the house, a quiet stay in, and everything in between. Ever thoughtful, it was not uncommon for her to provide care packages to friends if she thought it might be needed, or just brighten to their day. Along with her family, she is survived by those very friends, who she loved very much.

Maria carried a few charitable organizations very close to her heart, and donations can be made to the following, Kay Yow Cancer Fund, American Association of University Women, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Carolina Boxer Rescue. The links for donations are posted below.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Santore family.