Nancy (Howard) Saitta

Nancy Howard Saitta, 81, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2024 at Duke Hospital in Durham, after complications during surgery. She was surrounded by many of her loved ones following her passing, as they comforted each other with fond memories well into early morning hours. Nancy was born on October 9, 1943, in Wake County, NC to parents Percy Jackson Howard and Vergie Cash Howard. Nancy grew up in Pittsboro, NC, graduating from Pittsboro High School with honors and in 1964, was admitted to the prestigious Watts
School of Nursing in Durham, NC, from which she also graduated with honors and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. It was there that she met a dashing, darkhaired student from UNC Chapel Hill, who frequently visited her on the Watts campus. This suiter was Peter Saitta of Durham, and after being captivated by her beauty and charm, recognized that he had found the love of his life and asked Nancy if he could spend the rest of it with her. They married in1966 and spent many decades raising their two sons in Durham and shared lots of adventures together and with their many friends. After becoming a successful graduate and Registered Nurse in the State of NC, Nancy remained at Watts Hospital for many years, eventually becoming a Head Nurse in the early 70s while raising two young sons with Pete at their longtime home on Hope Valley Road in Durham – John Howard (born in 1968) and Thomas Michael (born in 1970). In 1976, Nancy transitioned to the newly formed Durham County General Hospital, a merger of Watts Hospital and Lincoln Hospital (now part of Duke Health Systems). There, she continued her role as RN and assumed the role of Healthcare Quality Asst. Manager for the hospital’s new Medical Care Evaluation department. After nearly three decades of service as a Registered Nurse and Manager, Nancy retired from Durham County General in 1999. Although she left the Hospital, Nancy was not ready to leave Healthcare, particularly since surviving Breast Cancer and its
aggressive treatment in 1994. This experience inspired her to begin a new career with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina in 1999, where she worked as a Quality Management Consultant.
Through her passion and tireless efforts, Nancy broadened breast cancer awareness in her community, often participating in outreach events in North Carolina. Nancy decided to retire in 2011 so she could spend more time with her family and friends, but especially with her beautiful grandchild, Adrienne Grace Saitta, daughter to her son, John and former daughter-in-law, Natalie Saitta. Nancy and Adrienne shared a very special bond at that time in their lives, about which Nancy always said, “That special little girl fills my heart with love and sunshine.”

Nancy was a fiercely devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, aunt, Godmother, sister, and friend. She was known for her grace, elegance, kindness, sharp wit and love of people. She was regal, refined, and a woman of principle and integrity. She could dress like royalty yet “let her hair down” when we least expected it. Nancy was approachable in so many ways and brought joy to any situation. Her brilliant sense of humor often came to the fore as an assortment of highly original, often repeated and endearing catchphrases for which she was became well-known. She
had a lovely smile, and contagious laugh that would capture hearts, particularly when she laughed at herself. Nancy was a gentile, yet eloquently outspoken Southern Lady, who spoke directly but with a refined and respectful demeanor. Nancy was well known around Hope Valley and parts beyond for her baking and canning. Her sour-cream lemon poundcakes were on everybody’s wish-list during the holidays, and over the weeks preceding Christmas, her two sons would watch her create these delicious confections, eagerly awaiting their opportunity to lick cake batter
off the spatulas. We are certain she left some extra batter on them for that very purpose. She also had a sense of community and volunteerism, which lead her to serve in many capacities in the local area. They included the Durham Greenways Commission, the Durham Junior League, the Garden Club of NC, West Point on the Eno at the McCowan-Mangum house, and the Durham Debutante Ball Society.
Nancy also exhibited tremendous courage in the face of much adversity in the latter-half of her life. She was a breast cancer survivor for over 20 years, endured the unanticipated passing of her husband, Pete, in her mid-fifties, and had to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Despite these trials, she was amazingly resilient, possessing a steadfast determination to keep moving forward as she navigated these many challenges, while always finding love, strength and happiness along the way. Although her last years represented her most difficult challenge, by the grace of God, she never failed to remember her two sons and their families, her extended family, and her close friends never surrendering to the ravages of Alzheimer’s when it came to her loved ones. This same strength of will allowed Nancy to remain in her home on Hope Valley Road for over 54 years - the home she loved so dearly, the home where she found peace, the home where she made and raised a family. This, above all, was her one true wish after being diagnosed with this horrible disease. Nancy will be dearly missed by those who were blessed to know and love her, though her light will still shine bright in our hearts. Remember her love, remember her smile, and remember her laugh. And lastly, remember to love and spend time with friends and family, as if it were your last day on Earth with them.

Nancy is survived by her two loving sons John Howard Saitta and Thomas (Tom) Michael Saitta and wife Rebecca, Nancy’s granddaughter Adreinne Grace Saitta (who
knew Nancy as “BeBe”), her brother Larry Howard (and wife Jan Howard) and sister Jeneverette Reeves (and husband Bud Reeves), her uncle Dan and aunt Becky Howard, her sister-in-laws Barbara Schmidt, Joann McClintock and Brenda Howard, and countless nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Peter A. Saitta, her parents Percy Jackson Howard and Vergie Cash Howard, and her older brother, Gerald Howard.
The Family invites all who’ve had their lives touched by Nancy to the Visitation and Funeral Service to celebrate Nancy’s life.

  
The Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 14, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at Donaldson Funeral Home, located at 396 West Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
The Funeral Service and Celebration of life for Nancy will be on Friday, November 15, at 11:00 AM, at Bells Baptist Church, located at 1274 Farrington Road, Apex, NC 27523.
Directly after the funeral, there will be a Burial Service at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery, located at 1785 Mt. Gilead Church Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312
Following the burial, the Family will host a Celebration Reception at Hope Valley Country Club from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM, located at 3803 Dover Road in Durham. All guests are welcome to come.

Condolences can be made online at https://www.donaldsonfunerals.com/obituary/Nancy-Saitta

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to breast cancer research – https://earlier.org and the Dementia Alliance of NC, https://dementianc.org/

The family would like to thank Christina Carter and Connie Christie for the years of love, care and service for our mother in her home, and the staff at Duke Hospital for their compassionate care during Nancy’s illness. Please join us in celebrating this amazing woman’s life and legacy. She will be deeply missed, but forever in our hearts.

Donaldson Funeral Home is honored to serve the Saitta family.