Nunzia 'Nancy' Winslow

Nunzia "Nancy" Ferraro Winslow, 78, of Troy, died Nov. 24, 2005, Thanksgiving Day morning, at home in her beloved sun room with her family at her bedside.

She was born Feb. 11, 1927, in Naples, Italy, to Salvatore and Carmela (Esposito) Ferraro, and was one of 11 children. She grew up in the shadow of World War II, in a war-torn Naples, often fleeing as a child with her family to underground shelters to escape bombs that pummeled the city. She was educated in Naples.

As a young woman, she worked in a hospital before meeting James P. Winslow, who was stationed with U.S. Navy in Naples. They were married Dec. 4, 1951, in Naples in a municipal ceremony. She came alone via ocean liner to the United States in 1952, speaking a little English, and stayed with her husband's parents in Troy while waiting Jim's discharge from the Navy. They had a church wedding Sept. 14, 1952, at St. Joseph's Church in Libby.

Jim and Nancy (her Americanized name) settled in Troy, where they raised three children.

In 1958, Nunzia became an American citizen, for which she was very proud. In 1985, Nunzia and Jim moved to the Winslow ranch on Savage Lake, where they had built a new home overlooking the Cabinet Mountains.

After 50-plus years in the United States, Nunzia never lost her endearing Italian accent. She was also very proud of her Italian heritage, and would often proclaim to people she would meet, "I am Italian!"

She nurtured her family - and friends — with simple but hearty Italian fare, especially her raviolis, and pasta e fasule and pasta di lenticchie soups. She loved gardening, growing basil, tarragon and other herbs in giant terracotta pots on her sunny deck (and would eventually dry the herbs and give them away). She grew tomatoes and other vegetables, intermingled with flowers, in random garden spots around her rural home. She liked going to garage sales with her daughters. Nunzia loved her family more than anything.

She is survived by her husband, Jim of Troy; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Cookie Winslow of Troy; daughters Lisa Winslow of Chico, Calif., and Carmen Winslow of Butte; grandson Denver and his wife Anita Winslow of Thayne, Wyo., and children, Derrick and Cy; granddaughter, Amy and her husband Keenan Pfeifle of Billings, and their daughter to be born in March; sisters Asuntina Quaranta, Lena Ferraro and Rita and her husband Giovanni Baiardo of Naples, Italy; brothers, Luigi and his wife Josephina Ferraro, Antonio Ferraro, Gennaro and his wife Louisa Ferraro, all of Naples; sisters-in-law, Jeanne Lindholm and Jane and her husband Martin Weber of Spokane; brothers-in-law Ray Winslow of Oaksdale, Wash., and Bill and his wife Mary Winslow of Troy; and a host of nieces and nephews in Italy and the U.S.

She was preceded in death by sisters, Josepina and Nina, and brothers, Annello and Giovanni; and brothers-in-law, Bert and Erv Winslow.

Funeral mass was held Monday, Nov. 28, 2005, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Troy with Father Jozef Perehubka officiating. Burial was at the Milnor Lake Cemetery. A vigil service was held Sunday, Nov. 27, at the Nelson and Vial Funeral Home. Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Troy or Wings.

Nelson and Vial Funeral Home of Libby handled arrangements.