Obituary of Nancy DeBerry

Mrs. Nancy (Mormile) DeBerry, 97, a lifelong resident of Amsterdam, passed away on February 4, 2021 after a long and full life.

Nancy was born in Amsterdam on June 1, 1923 to Anthony and Jessie (Aquilla) Mormile. She graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in 1941, and went on to study at the Amsterdam School of Commerce where she earned her Certified Accounting degree in 1943. Nancy was a skilled bookkeeper; she used this skill at her father’s business, Mormile Plumbing & Heating Co., for many years.

In September of 1946 Nancy was united in marriage to James J. DeBerry. When they began building their family together, Nancy devoted her attention to raising her sons, Jim and Tom. Nancy loved nothing more than her family, and her role as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was her greatest source of pride.

Mrs. DeBerry spent decades as a parishioner of the Roman Catholic Faith, first at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church until its closing in the early 2000s, when she began attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, and later at the Auriesville Shrine, where she was a devout attendee. She also served as the Treasurer for the Mount Carmel Seniors for four years. For many years she was a civic volunteer, working as an Election Officer at the Greater Amsterdam School District, and Montgomery County Board of Elections during each local and national election beside her husband. She also spent time working as a Teacher’s Aide at Wilbur H. Lynch High School in the Media Center, as well as in the Physical Education Department.

Nancy accredited her long life to an active and healthy lifestyle. She was an avid volleyball player, cross country skier, and played golf well into her 80s.

Nancy is survived by her son, Jim (Jamie) DeBerry of Carlsbad, California; her brother Arthur (Shirley) Mormile; her grandchildren, Courtney (Jim) Baraglia, Meghan (Trevor) MacArthur, Lindsey, Jase, and Michael DeBerry; her daughter-in-law Heidi DeBerry; great-grandchildren Jimmy, Kylie, Brayden, and Cameron; as well as by her niece, Kathy Mormile.

Aside from her parents, Anthony and Jessie, Nancy is preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, James; her beloved son, Tom; her brother, Stephan Mormile; as well as by her sisters, Rose (Ralph) Martuscello, and Jessie (Dominick) Greco.

The DeBerry family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Emily Etzkorn for her tireless patience, care, and support; her trusted caretaker Patty Paterek; and the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, all of whom brought her comfort in her final days.

Due to current travel and gathering restrictions, a memorial will be held at a later date to celebrate Nancy’s life, with interment services to follow at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her husband. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, NY 11797.