Nancy R. Reilly, age 92, of Derby, peacefully entered into rest on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the devoted wife of 64 years of the late Robert F. Reilly, Sr.. Nancy was born in Derby on February 15, 1932, daughter of the late Ferdinando and Elena (Carloni) Baldelli, and was a lifelong Derby resident.
A proud graduate of the Derby High School class of 1949 Nancy was initially employed at the Southern Connecticut State Teachers College (now Southern Connecticut State University) as an administrative assistant and also attended classes there. Thereafter, she worked for 42 years as an Assistant Clerk at the Ansonia/Derby District Probate Court in Ansonia. She worked for three different Probate Judges including the Hon. Judge Thomas E. Bennett, Hon. Bishop Von Wettberg and finally for the Honorable Judge Clifford D. Hoyle beginning in 1976 until her retirement. During her long tenure as an assistant clerk, Nancy gained a prolific knowledge of the Probate process. She thoroughly enjoyed her work, especially the camaraderie of the Judges and fellow clerks at the Court she became lifelong friends with and also enjoyed helping the many Valley residents she came into contact with during their times of sorrow. During her teen and young adult years, she, along with her sisters, helped with her mother’s catering business working as a waitress at hundreds of weddings and other events at various clubs throughout the Valley and especially at the Adriatic Marchegian (A.M.) Club in Derby.
After taking adult education painting classes at night at Derby High School, Nancy became an avid painter and continued to hone her painting skills by watching Bob Ross’s television show, “The Joy of Painting.” She gave away most of her paintings and sketches to family, friends and colleagues and even medical personnel to be displayed in their homes or offices. She was also an avid reader and collector of frontier books by Louis L’Amour and owned all 200 plus of his paperback novels, books on tape and hardcover books and enjoyed all of the movies based on them. She was a big fan of Wild West dramas especially those starring John Wayne as well as Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck and loved the GRIT channel as well as the old 40’s, 50’s and early ‘60’s black and white movies on the Turner Classic Movies channel. But most of all, she cherished spending time with her family.
She is the beloved mother of Dr. Robert F. Reilly, Jr. and his wife Rachell and Atty. Steven M. Reilly and his wife Suzanne, cherished grandmother of Robert W. Reilly, Philip G. Reilly, Andrea Stacy, Rebecca M. Reilly and Matthew Reilly, and proud great-grandmother of Samuel and Mia Stacy. Nancy was predeceased by a son, Atty Frederick M. Reilly, and sisters Viola Guliano, Mary Piccini, Irene Monaco, Nora Deleonardo, Pauline Bertanza and Baby Nancy Baldelli.
Friends may greet the family at the Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home, 253 Elizabeth Street, Derby, on Friday from 4 to 7 PM. On Saturday her procession will leave the parlor at 9:30 AM for a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Mt. St. Peters Cemetery.
In remembrance of Nancy’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Project Purple —a world without pancreatic cancer— at www.projectpurple.org/.
Online condolences can be offered at www.adzimafh.com.
