Obituary of Nancy Aileen Wissner

In memory of, and with undying love for, Nancy Aileen Wissner, MA (nee Walkauskas), born September 1, 1948, in Pittsburgh PA.  Proudly of Irish and Lithuanian descent, Nancy grew up on the northside (so rarely met a stranger), she attended St. Dominic's, and later Slippery Rock and Pitt.  She wore many hats in her lifetime;  wife, mother, friend... lifeguard, teacher, realtor - with laughter and kindness she excelled at them all.   Nancy loved music and dance, be it performed in a gilded hall or of her own making, it made her joyful.  Nancy was a true adventuress.  Whether paddling the Yough or sailing the Greek seas, sleeping in a tent along the Clarion or one in the middle of the Serengeti, she relished each challenge.  But as everyone knew, being part fish, her true favorite was the water.  She shared her lifelong love of the water with generations of people whom she taught to swim, as well as many of her family and friends who learned to SCUBA dive by following the trail she blazed into those magnificent depths. 

The latter part of Nancy's journey was not an easy one, but she met it with the same tenacious and relentless approach with which she tackled all things.  She credited her faith in God and her great love for her family for providing her the strength to remain with us for as long as did.  Nancy is survived by her husband of 53 years Philip Wissner, her daughters Amy Wissner and Melissa (Jason) Lowman, her grandson Aiden Anderson, her mother Joan Crawshaw, and her brothers Frank (Nancy) Crawshaw and Richard (Amy) Chrawshaw, their families, and Libby.  Nancy requested a wake and we look forward to celebrating her life, her fierce love, and mischievous humor this summer at a date TBD.