Nancy Wolff

Nancy Virginia Wolff born into life June 5, 1932. Born into everlasting life July 28, 2023. Nancy is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Richard (Dick), and their infant son Tommy and her siblings: Kathleen Onello, Ruth Brown, Joan Shea, and Gerald Monroe. She was born in Hartford, WI to Walter and Mabel Monroe nee Michaels, the youngest of 5 children. She is survived by her 17 children, 58 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and counting. Nancy had many loves in her life: her faith, her husband, Dick, her family, her friends, and music. Her love of music began early and was a constant in her life. It started with lessons from one of the sisters at St. Thomas Elementary School in Hartford, and lead to playing the organ for school liturgies at an early age. While her desire to be a concert pianist never came to fruition, she did much to engender the love of music in everyone she knew. For 30 years she played organ at mass every Sunday at Prince of Peace Parish. She also taught and led the school children in song while she played for their school masses. For decades, Nancy taught piano to countless children and adults, including her own children and many grandchildren. She and Dick started “The Wolves” around 1977 with 12 of their children: a family band that played big band music for weddings, fundraisers, conferences, and other events in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. Always looking to improve, in her late 50’s, she went back to take piano lessons herself with jazz masters at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She also studied with renowned classical pianist, Barbara Enders, at the College of Lake County, eventually receiving an associate degree in music from that institution. Nancy was also an accomplished composer and recorded many of her songs which were both secular and religious. Nancy attended Marquette University for 2 years. There, she gave the man she would come to love with her whole heart a passing smile because she thought he was someone else because she was not wearing her glasses. They later met more formally at a school mixer. A courtship ensued and they married on June 28, 1952, and spent the next 58 years together. Mary Eloise and Stephen were born in Milwaukee. Nancy and Dick then moved to Crane, Indiana where Dick worked on getting a Masters in English. The next three children were born there: Christine, Therese, and Clare. The family moved to Lindenhurst, IL after Dick was offered a position at Great Lakes Naval Base. The remaining thirteen children were born there: Mark, Virginia, Rebecca, Renee, David, Robert, Thomas, Veronica, Suzanne, Justin, Julia, Simone, and Nell. Raising this many children was not an easy thing to do, but a strong faith in God and the love of the Virgin Mary carried them through every difficult time. Her faith and the love of her husband stayed with her until the very end. She often spoke of how much she missed him and how she looked forward to rejoining him in heaven. Her faith was strong, affecting everything she did, bolstered by the many friends that she made in her life at Prince of Peace Parish. Whether serving as an organist, a participant in bible study groups, which included her dear friends, Bernice Zegan and Rita Wismer, or a CRHP retreat participant, she sought to grow her life in Christ. Without fail, every night she prayed the rosary and went to mass until her health restrained her. Every night Nancy and Dick as they lay in bed together would pray: “Grant that in loving You, we may love each other according to Thy divine law.” …as the preface says, ‘Life is changed, not taken away.’ And it is changed, and it is not taken away. And it's sort of, I suppose, like walking through a door. But it will be so nice, knowing that you’ve been there [with us]. You have been there. And you’ve made our lives blossom. You’ve made us very happy...” - Richard Wolff March 21st, 1999 Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Visitation will take place on Thursday, August 3. 2023 from 3:00 - 7:00 pm at Ringa Funeral Home 122 S. Milwaukee Ave. Lake Villa, IL. Additional visitation Friday, August 4, 2023, from 8:30 am until prayers at 9:15 am at the funeral home. Mass at 10:00 am at Prince of Peace Church 135 S. Milwaukee Ave Lake Villa, IL. Private cremation.

Nancy Wolff

June 5, 1932 - July 28, 2023

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