Nancy (Porter) Denari

Nancy (Porter) Denari, 89, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, 2024, just a few days before her 90th birthday. It’s a fitting tribute as she loved the Christmas season so much. This time of year, her house would be covered in Christmas knick-knacks, plates, and of course, the tree that would be covered in lights and ornaments. The mountains of gifts in the living room for her grandkids became a loving tradition as Nancy would be wrapping gifts through the night, just to have everything ready for them on Christmas day.

Nancy was a doting mother of five children, grandmother of thirteen, and a great grandmother of five beautiful little ones. Nancy married the love of her life, Bob Denari, in 1957 and had a loving marriage for 60 years, until Bob’s passing in 2017. She was a mother, in every sense of the word, always putting her kids before her own interests, supporting them in every way she could. Nancy was so proud of her kids that she would even tear up at a parent-teacher conference when a teacher would praise one of her children. 

Nancy was born on December 29th, 1934, to Emanuel Porter and Gertrude (Acord) in Dayton, Ohio, grew up in Trotwood, Ohio with her four siblings, Mary Jane, Donald, Gene and John. She attended Trotwood Madison High School, and after a year at the University of Dayton, Nancy transferred to Indiana University, joined Chi Omega, graduated in 1957. She devoutly attended Catholic mass in Bloomington, which was also where she first noticed a young Bob Denari. Nancy and Bob soon enjoyed a pizza and a “big orange” on their first date, and the rest is history. 

Nancy had a few different careers, starting with her first job at NCR (National Cash Register) in Dayton, before she and Bob were married and moved to Covington, Ohio. After her first son, Chris, arrived in 1961, she became a full-time mom. But, even before then, she had already become a coach’s wife, which was also a full-time job. Through the years, she would shepherd her growing family from town to town as the Denari clan moved for Bob’s various coaching jobs. 

Then, in the early 1980’s, Nancy leaped into a new career, joining Callahan Seeds as receptionist and quickly increased her responsibility, becoming office manager. Her skills and experience as a mom and a coach’s wife translated well as she became the go-to person in the office, becoming indispensable in her support of so many within the company. 

Even through all of her work throughout the years, she always found time to help her kids and grandkids whenever possible, whether an impromptu babysitter, or as a tireless fan at countless grandchildren’s’ games, events, concerts, or recitals. Even when they were slowing down physically, she and Bob couldn’t get enough of their grandkids activities and made those events a priority. And, somehow, just somehow, she always had a Tootsie Pop in her purse for each grandchild after the event. 

Nancy is survived by her sister, Mary Jane (Porter) Carroll, her brother, Gene Porter, her children, Chris Denari (Terry), Tom Denari (Maggie), Susie McCullough (Scott), John Denari (Aine) and Steve Denari (Cassi); grandchildren, Evan Denari (Meredith), Wil Denari (Emma), Max Denari, Jordan Denari Duffner (Chris), Nick Denari (Erica Papkee), Katie McCullough, Mark McCullough, Sarah McCullough, Kyla Denari, Finn Denari, Alannah Denari, Jack Denari and Hudson Denari; great grandchildren, Archer Denari, Adam Duffner, Aya Duffner, Walker Denari and Eli Denari.

Calling will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 4th at Flanner Buchanan - Hamilton Memorial Park (Prairie Waters) in Westfield, Indiana, with a funeral service following at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy’s memory can be made to the renamed, Robert and Nancy Denari Science Education Scholarship Fund, (this was Nancy’s idea when Bob passed away in 2017) which provides an annual scholarship to a Westfield High School graduating senior pursuing a science degree. Please go to https://www.wwswef.org/robertandnancydenari and donate In Memoriam to Nancy Denari.