Nancy (Pfohl) Bellisario

Nancy (Pfohl) Bellisario, beloved wife of Theodore, died at home in Ithaca with family near by, on July 10, 2022. She was born in Palmyra, NY, on December 2, 1934, to Katherine (Lawler) and Edmund Pfohl. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her four children: Ann (Larry), Karen (Dan), Mike (Sara) and Tim (Joy), two stepchildren: Ted (Pam) and Lynda (Tomas), her sister Carolyn, and many grandchildren, nieces,  nephews, and great grandchildren. Predeceased by her parents and her sister Alice.

Nancy graduated from Ithaca High and Eastman Dental School. She worked for many years as a dental hygienist. She was an active member of Immaculate Conception Church, volunteering in many ways, and faithfully helping with the weekly food pantry.

Nancy had many interests, many of them revolving around sports and the outdoors. In high school, she participated in intramural sports and was president of the women’s sports club, and marched in the band playing a cornet. She worked as a counselor at Comstock Girl Scout Camp, where she taught swimming. She enjoyed canoeing and sailing from a young age, and later planned family canoe trips in the Adirondacks and even one in the remote Algonquin Park, Canada. As a Mariner Scout Leader, she guided groups of young women in seamanship, cruising Cayuga Lake and the Erie Canal. She took up windsurfing later in life, only relinquishing the sport when the board seemed too heavy to lift to her car top. When windsurfing became difficult, she began to golf regularly. Other activities including oil painting, knitting, sewing, walking, building doll houses and furnishing them, and cross country skiing.

She enjoyed planning large family events, family picnics and holiday gatherings. She cooked and baked for weeks in advance. She spent time playing board games and yard games with her children and grandchildren. She was the center of a very large family, and she will be forever missed. As an unknown poet wrote: “Mother, you left us beautiful memories; your love is still our guide; although we cannot see you; you're always at our side.”

Donations can be made to the food pantry: https://www.foodbankst.org/ways-to-give/donate/

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Ithaca, NY. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held Friday, July 15, 2022 from 5-7 pm at Bangs Funeral Home, 209 W. Green St., Ithaca. The family requests that masks be worn during the calling hours and services.