Blanche Elizabeth Nanney

Blanche Elizabeth Nanney (nee Cotner) of St. Peters, MO, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the age of 91. Loving wife of the late Hugo Nanney for almost 60 years; beloved daughter of the late Clyde and Catherine Cotner; devoted mother of Dennis Nanney, Kenneth (Susan) Nanney, Mark (Donna) Nanney, Ronald (Leanne) Nanney, Douglas (Sherrie) Nanney, Elizabeth (Arthur) Barnes; cherished grandmother of Anthony Nanney (Christine), Amy Burris (Joseph), Paul Nanney (Diamond Harmon), Patrick Nanney (Shelby), Holli Seidel (Michael), Derrick Baca, Kristi Handley, Scott Nanney (Jessica), Jacob Nanney, Kyle Nanney (Missy), Brandon Barnes (Natália Calleya), Grant Barnes, Adam Barnes, Nathan Nanney (infant deceased), and great-grandmother of 22.

Dear sister of Jean (the late Lloyd) Emmendorfer, Clyde (the late Peggy) Cotner, and Ruth (Troy) Wilson; beloved aunt, cousin, and friend to many. Blanche is also preceded in death by her siblings, Howard (the late Annie) Cotner, Alvin (the late Blanche) Cotner, Ethel (the late John) Topel, Helen (the late Charlie) Jacobs, and infant sister, Lenora Cotner.

Blanche devoted the entirety of her life to the love, support and nurturing of her large and grateful family. After her first child was born in the 1950’s, she stayed home to raise her six children, never wavering in this task she was called to complete on earth. In doing so, she sacrificed so that she and her husband Hugo, could provide for their family. She was a woman of faith in her own private way, and was a member of Assumption Church in O’Fallon, Missouri since the early 1960’s, where she ensured all her children received a Catholic school education. She was famous for her sweet attitude and love towards everyone she met and was a second mom to many.

Blanche could make homemade gravy out of anything, and her Chicken & Dumplings and Gooey Butter Cake were the BEST!  As much as her daughter-in-law’s tried, no one could make Gooey Butter Cake like Maw Maw Nanney. She loved bringing those yummy goodies to family functions and seeing her family smile. This was especially true at Nanney Christmas each year when her family eventually grew to approximately 50 children/in-laws/grandchildren/great grandchildren and required rental of a hall to accommodate everyone. Any day you might casually stop in to see Blanche, Mom, or Maw Maw Nanney at home, she always had a dessert on the kitchen counter and offered you a slice and immediately made you feel comfortable in her home.

Blanche loved a good church rummage sale where she could find multiple bargains. Even in her later years, her mind was still sharp as a tack and she knew all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and newborns’ names, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and kept the information in a calendar that she diligently wrote in by hand every new year. If you asked her about a certain extended relative’s name, age or significant dates, she could tell you the information off the top of her head. She never forgot to send birthday and special cards to those she loved as she loved all her family, sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews dearly and tried to attend as many extended family functions as possible. She loved receiving birthday and Christmas cards in return, so a daily trip to the mailbox, or in later years, sending someone to the mailbox, was one of the highlights of her day. She was Old School and never turned on a computer nor hardly turned on her cell phone. She never learned to drive nor obtained her driver’s license, thus living a simple, down to earth life where she passed down her traits of enduring love, kindness, and faithfulness to her family. We are all so very blessed to have this beautiful and kind spirit included in our lives. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Memorials may be made to Masses or Devotions in her name or to the American Heart Association.