Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Nancy Ann (Moore) Whitney, age 90, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2020 at Longwood at Oakmont, the retirement community where she resided for the past 10 years. For 64 years, Nancy was the beloved wife of the late Robert (Bob) Lawrence Whitney. Nancy was born July 23, 1930 in Pittsburgh PA to Jay Robert Moore and Helen Hunter Drill Moore. She had two sisters, Jane Moore Lyons and Helen Moore McPherson. Nancy spent her childhood and most of her life in Oakmont, PA. In 1948, Nancy graduated high school from Winchester Thurston School and in 1952 she graduated from Pennsylvania College for Women (presently Chatham University) with a B.A. in Sociology and Religion. Nancy then worked in the Public Relations Department for DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware. While living in Wilmington, she met her future husband, Robert Lawrence Whitney, over a game of Monopoly. After a six-month courtship, they married on January 15, 1955. Soon after, they moved to Oakmont, Pennsylvania and purchased the home where Nancy grew up. There they raised five children. Nancy’s greatest love was her family and she lovingly coordinated and supported her family’s numerous activities. Along with being the consummate wife and mother, she was an active community volunteer for numerous causes. She was a member of the Federation of Independent School Alumnae (FISA) which founded Harmarville Rehabilitation Center. She served as board president twice and served on the board of trustees of Harmarville Rehabilitation. She introduced Junior Great Books to Riverview School District and was involved in PTA and American Field Service (AFS). She was a Girl Scout Leader for two troops for many years. She was responsible for initiating the Pittsburgh council of the National Association of Investment Corporations (NAIC) and a charter member of its board. Nancy was a charter member and first president of the Thomas House, like the Ronald McDonald House. She was also involved with PEO, Odd-Lots Investment Club, DAR, Welcome Wagon, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and several other organizations. Her dedication to these organizations helped improve many lives. In addition, she enjoyed traveling, swimming, golfing, tennis, ceramics, computers, and genealogy. Nancy will always be remembered for her lovely smile, her friendly welcoming demeanor, and her hard-work and dedication to the causes she believed in. When her husband Bob suffered a stroke in 1988, Nancy was an integral part of his recovery and rehabilitation. Through their joint efforts, he regained his speech and learned to walk again. For many years Nancy and Bob spent their winters living in Clearwater, Florida at the On Top of the World retirement community. There she wrote a personal memoir with many humorous stories of her life (which her family will always cherish), completed genealogy research, and was involved in the computer club, tennis group, and the New England Club. In addition, Bob and Nancy travelled extensively to New England, Hawaii, Australia, China, Mexico, Colombia, and Canada as well as many visits to Ohio, Georgia, and Maryland to visit children and grandchildren. Since 2010, Nancy has lived at Longwood at Oakmont where she again became very involved in the many activities offered. Nancy will live on through the many lives she touched and her large family including her and Bob’s five children and their families: Robert Lawrence (Larry) Whitney Jr. and his wife Mary; Jay Moore Whitney and his children Emily (Steven) Foltz and Patrick (Coline) Whitney; Diane Whitney and her husband Kenneth Kaluzienski and their daughter Brooke Kaluzienski; Douglas Mercer Whitney and his wife Angela and his children Ben and Tom Whitney and her children Pollyanna and Angela Suarez; Barbara Whitney Erbe and her husband Michael and their children Austin, Nathan, Amanda, and Brian Erbe. Her husband of 64 years, Bob, died in 2019. Her sisters, Jane Moore Lyons and Helen Moore McPherson, predeceased her. Her children would like to thank those in the community who brought our parents joy throughout their lives. In addition, we are thankful for all of Nancy’s caregivers who provided exceptional care as she declined in health; we are especially grateful for Paula Edwards and Dee Wagner. Friends and family will be received on Friday, September 25, 2020, from 2:00- 3:30pm, at English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 378 Maryland Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Oakmont, following the visitation. Donations in the name of Nancy Moore Whitney can be made to the FISA Foundation, to the Oakmont Historical Society, or to a charity of your choice. Another option is to give someone a “Nancy” smile and warm their heart.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy M. Whitney, please visit our floral store.