09/14/2024
Sadly, my Aunt Nana, Nana Coppola Balzo passed last night. She was 102 years old. Here she is as a youngster in this picture celebrating her 100 birthday.
Aunt Nana was an amazing woman.
She was the beating heart of the Coppola Family. The youngest of 9 children. She was a wonderful Aunt always smiling, bursting with happiness whenever any of the family saw or contacted her.
I remember a Christmas party many years ago at my Uncle Michael's home. The place was packed. She called me into the kitchen "Sonny (my nickname - can I talk to you for a minute. She hugged me and told me she loved me."
At that time, I had a tendency to be very busy and didn't really spend time with the family, cousins and such.
"Sonny. You see everyone in there. They all love you and miss you. Promise me you'll spend much more time with them. She looked me right in the eye. I love you and they love you. I started to cry.
She was always there for everyone.
My Aunt Nana was married to Dominic Balzo and together built a pizzeria on Webster Avenue in the Bronx. They had three children Patty, Joseph and Anthony. Sadly Joseph died last year. She loved David, Patty's husband and Debbie, Joseph's wife and Anthony's family as her own children.
As I said, Aunt Nana was the heart of the family, sending love, love, love to all who knew her.
On behalf of the entire family and all who knew we wish you love and happiness seeing her beloved Dominick and her son Joseph.
Rest in my peace, Aunt Nana.