Nancy Lynn Lorenzo

“Together Again”

On the evening of Friday, May 28, 2021, our fearless and loving mother, grandmother, and Nonna left her earthly body—while surrounded by her children– and was reunited with the love of her life, Joe; she is no longer in pain.

Nancy was born on October 27, 1948, in Lynnwood, California to parents Garnet S. Cumming and Ruth Krier Cumming.  She grew up in beautiful Palos Verdes riding horses – at which she was a competition level horseback rider – going to the beach, and listening to rock-n-roll.  Nancy was a California girl through and through.  She attended Rolling Hills High School and later Woodbury College – where she met the love of her life, Joe Lorenzo.   The soul mates and life-long partners married on January 27, 1968, at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Los Angeles.  Their marriage spanned nearly 50 years before Joe was taken from her too early.  After starting their family with one child in California, they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in the early 1970’s where the family of three  grew to five.  While raising three kids, Nancy worked for the Salt Lake Community Development Corporation where she helped low income families purchase quality, affordable housing.  Her exemplary organizational and administrative skills were treasured at SLCDC and she was dearly missed there when rheumatoid arthritis forced an early retirement.

Nancy loved music – especially the greats from the 60’s, many of whom she saw live: the Doors, Janice Joplin, and of course, Bob Dylan were among her favorites.  Nancy was always up for watching a concert movie or musical documentary with you.  But more than music she loved her children and she loved us unconditionally.  She was truly the sweetest most loving mother a person could ask for.  She embodied  love, devotion, and faith, she was a collector, gift giver, world class organizer, and a confidant – she will be sorely missed!

Always a woman of faith, Nancy loved the Lord and served him with her husband Joe through hosting weekly “Friday Night Bible Studies” and the “Fire Fighters for Christ Tape Ministry.”  No doubt it was Nancy’s faith in the Lord that gave her the strength to persevere with severe rheumatoid arthritis for multiple decades.  Never deserving of her suffering – the strength and bravery she possessed in the face of this crippling disease was remarkable and inspiring. 

Our family would like to extend a sincere thank you to her in-home health care team and the staff at Solstice Hospice for the loving care they provided Nancy in her home during her last months.  A special thank you goes to Kaylene Harrison for taking care of our mom day in and day out – you were her right hand and our rock! We don’t know what we would have done without you! And another special thank you -to Liliana Carcano for being her weekend warrior!  We also want to thank her friends that have always been there for her and our family and were familiar faces these past months and years: Kris Thorpe, Joanne and Fred Furbush, Carolyn and Steve Winters, Paul Rottman, Terry and Allison Long, and many others. 

Nancy is survived by her son Seth Lorenzo, daughter Arianne (Randy) Rutherford, and son Nicholas (Elizabeth, former spouse) Lorenzo; her grandchildren, whom she loved and adored: Lily and Jacob Rutherford; and Ophelia, Lucas, and Finn Lorenzo; and her sister Victoria Buell.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph Anthony Lorenzo, mother Ruth Ann Cumming and father Garnet Smith Cumming, also by her precious bear of a dog, Kibo.

A funeral service will be held at Calvary Chapel at 460 West Century Drive (Murray, Utah) on Saturday, June 19,  2021 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Nancy’s name to the Arthritis Foundation.