Nancy J. Mancini

Nancy Jane Mancini, age 85, of Centerville, Minnesota, formerly of Oakdale, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Nancy was born on October 12, 1940, in Renville, Minnesota, to Henry and Naomi (Harmon) Tiedens. She was raised on the Eastside of Saint Paul, where she built the strong, spirited foundation that would define her life. A proud graduate of Harding High School, Class of 1958, Nancy carried lifelong friendships and memories from her early years.

Nancy was united in marriage to Angelo Mancini Jr., the love of her life. Though life led them down separate paths for a time, love brought them back together, and they shared more than 30 years of marriage. Their story was one of enduring devotion — a testament to the belief that true love finds its way home.

A woman with a servant’s heart, Nancy worked with the handicapped community, transporting individuals to appointments and assisting with daily needs. She approached this work not simply as a job, but as a calling. Her kindness, patience, and genuine compassion left a lasting impact on those she served and their families.

Nancy was talented and adventurous in equal measure. She loved sewing and quilting, creating beautiful handmade pieces that will continue to warm her family for generations. She cherished camping trips with her grandchildren, creating memories around campfires and under open skies. A spirited soul, she also loved riding her motorcycle and traveling to Sturgis, embracing the freedom of the open road.

Family was the center of Nancy’s world. Perhaps no tradition captures her love better than her beloved Sunday spaghetti dinners — or as the family fondly called it, “Ragu.” Married into an Italian family, Nancy took great pride in learning to make spaghetti completely from scratch, just as her in-laws had done. Sundays meant gathering around the table, sharing her incredible meal, playing 654, laughing loudly, and simply being together. Those dinners were more than food; they were the heartbeat of the family.

Nancy was a wonderful, caring, and sweet person — but she was also a spitfire. She had strength, determination, and a spark that could light up any room. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was nothing short of the world’s best grandma. Her love was steady, fierce, and unconditional.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Angelo; her son-in-law, Paul Schwappach; and her siblings, Trione Tiedens, Delores Markie, Carol Mae Oswald, Donna Doree, and Marvin Tiedens.

Nancy is lovingly survived by her children, Michael (Cheryl) Mancini, Wendy Mancini, Rene Schwappach, and Arthur Hemmingson; her grandchildren, Michael Marcott, Gerald (Amanda) Schwappach, Joseph Mancini, Anthony Mancini, Isabella Mancini, Tracy (Jake) Crowley, Tim (Stevie) Anderson, and Ruth Hemmingson; several great-grandchildren; her brother, Dave (Karan) Tiedens; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Nancy’s life was one of love, resilience, laughter, and deep devotion to family. Her legacy lives on in every quilt stitch, every Sunday meal, every motorcycle mile, and every story shared around the table. Nancy’s family would like to thank the staff at Norbella Centerville and Hospice of the Midwest for their love, support and care.

Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.