Nancy Ann Staerzl
July 20, 1938 - July 21, 2017
Nancy Ann Staerzl, age 79 of Ventura, died on Friday, July 21, 2017 at her home after a brief illness.
Nancy was born July 20, 1938 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and was a 56 year county resident, moving to Ventura in 1962.
Nancy is survived by her daughter: Tami Kay Simpson, of Ventura; her sister: Virginia Shelton, of Crest Hill, Illinois; her brother: Richard Staerzl, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; her sister: Mary Hamell and her husband Dave, of Racine, Wisconsin; her nephews: Chris Shelton and his wife Lorna, of Centralia, Washington; Doug Shelton and his wife Jody, of Channahon, Illinois; Mark Shelton and his wife Sandy, of Braidwood, Illinois; Tony Hamell, of Racine Wisconsin; and Greg Staerzl and his wife Jill, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; her nieces: Teresa Gernev and her husband Terence, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Kelly Staerzl, of Madison, Wisconsin, Amy Timm and her husband Brian, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Beth Kraus and her husband Evan, of West Allis, Wisconsin. Nancy is also survived by four grand nephews, ten grand nieces, and several first cousins and second cousins.
Nancy was preceded in death by her mother: Lydia Elizabeth Leitner-Staerzl; her father: Arthur Henry Staerzl; her brother: Robert Staerzl and his wife Joyce Staerzl; her niece: Angela Perrault and her fiance Paul Simpson.
Mom graduated from nurses training in 1960 from Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
She worked for the Ventura County Medical Center for 32 years from 1962-1994. Her last position was in the Intensive Care Unit. While at Ventura County Medical Center, She was very active in the California Nurses Association and helped to negotiate their first contract at the Medical Center. She was also instrumental in passing two key pieces of legislation. First was the Nurse/Patient Ratio Law. Second was the Motorcycle Helmet Law.
When it came to sports, Mom was a San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, L.A. Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees fan. Our favorite Yankees player was Derek Jeter. However, when it came to football, there was only one team...the One and Only...Green Bay Packers!!!
Mom got two thrills of a lifetime when she got to see a pre-season game in San Diego between the San Diego Chargers and the Green Bay Packers. Not only did we get to see Brett Favre but we got to see Aaron Rodgers play as well. The second thrill would come when the following year, we would go to Green Bay and see Lambeau Field and actually sit in the stadium. Mom was in her glory and I am glad that we got to do both things.
Lastly, Mom was very active in her parish life at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church where she was a member for 55 years.
She taught C.C.D. classes. She was an active member of the Legion of Mary and Rosary Altar Society. she would go door to door with the first pastor, Monsignor Hurley, trying to get people to come back to church. She was a Eucharistic Minister to the Church and to Community Memorial Hospital. She was a member of the Young Ladies Institute #160 who have been my angels. Her biggest love, however, was doing the Children's Nursery during the 9:30 mass with which I helped her. Her faith was very important to her and she passed this on to me as well.
Her favorite thing to say was, "Remember, good things always come from bad." And, she was always right...
Mom made it to her 79th birthday and I gave her a small party and I made a cake. God had given her all those years and she deserved one last celebration and she then peacefully passed.
I wish to thank her doctors at Community Memorial Hospital: Dr. Reeves, Dr. Savage, Dr. Pankratz, and Dr. Ghaffari. Also, thanks to Livingston Memorial Hospice Care, Y.L.I. #160, Father Leon Hutton, Lauren Burns, Maria Fielding, Andrea Rooney, Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Dr. Steinberg, Dr. Tedesco, Dr. Moffat, Dr. Lynn Kong, Dr. Michael Hogan, Dr. Mazurek, Dr. Emery, Dr. Kantor, and Dr. Faulstitch.
Donations in her memory can be made to the Young Ladies Institute #160 in care of Our Lady of the Assumption Church or to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Ventura. A Viewing will be from 12 noon until 1:00 p.m. at the church. A reception after Mass will be in the Santa Cruz Room behind the church. Arrangements are under the care of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura.