Nancy Scierka

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and spouse of the “laugh house” has passed. Nancy Carol (née Sumosky) Scierka - devoted wife, loving mother, supportive sister, and amazing grandmother - died July 30, 2023, in Minnesota, her adopted state, after a short illness. Born on December 19, 1937, in Oil City, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Edward and Helen (Fox) Sumosky, Nancy was known to her siblings as Sissy. Her 1955 Cranberry High School yearbook called her "a live wire," and she was all of that. She met her partner of nearly sixty-six years, Andrew M. Scierka, at the original Oil City Sears store. And what a partnership it was. Andy and Nancy were married on August 3, 1957. They had five children: Kathy (Bruce) Hermansen, Barbara Scierka, Mary Jane “Jane” Scierka, Michael Scierka, and Andrew J. (Stephanie) Scierka. Nancy was a fun-loving, game-playing, storytelling, cheerleading confidante and tease to her kids, but it was her grandkids that really brought out Nancy's loving nature the most. Andrew and Kirby Hermansen and Lauren Scierka stole her heart. Nancy was an avid quilter; many of those reading this notice have a bed quilt, a lap quilt, a table runner, or a microwave bowl holder made by Nancy. She truly lived the adage that she who dies with the most fabric wins! Her other loves were playing cards and Mexican Train Dominoes and taking painting classes at her senior housing apartment. She played hundreds of Phase 10 and Authors games and never minded being the Old Maid. She loved to travel with her family to Avalon, New Jersey, and spend the summer days boogie boarding in the ocean, walking the beach, playing mushball in the evening sun, and getting ice cream every night. One thing for sure, there was always laughter in the house when Nancy was around. She is survived by her husband; Andrew; two sisters, Sally Balot Albright and Patty (Bill) Huber; two brothers, Edward (Barb) Sumosky and Daniel (Sharon) Sumosky; five children; three grandchildren; and lots of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Dave Balot; niece, Jessica Stephens. She shared lots of wisdom with us, including her favorite line: "Be nice to everyone, you never know when you are going to need that person." There will be a celebration of life in the coming months. The family requests that anyone wishing to honor Nancy make a donation in her name to Our Lady of Peace Hospice at 2076 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55104.