Joanne Dorothy Breiner Nacey
September 7, 1941 - November 6, 2025
Joanne Dorothy Breiner Nacey, passed away on November 6, 2025, surrounded by family.
Born in Rochester, NY on Sept 7, 1941, she was the daughter of Johanna and Ernest Breiner. Joanne graduated from St. Agnes H.S. She earned her RN from St. Mary’s Nursing School and worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
It was at St. Mary’s Joanne met her husband, Dr. Lawrence J. Nacey. They married on May 7, 1966 in Kansas City, MO. As newlyweds they helped found the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. Serving the Society, they worked with underserved communities in Kansas City, and spent two years in the British Honduras (now Belize), as missionaries, offering their medical talents/skills.
Joanne spent her life serving others, extending unconditional love to all she met. She served as a volunteer with St. Jerome Hospital, Batavia, NY; Right to Life; St. Mary’s and St. Anthony’s churches; as well as continuing to support the Society of Our Lady. Joanne’s faith was evident through her daily interactions, her commitment to the Catholic Faith and teaching CCD. Joanne’s smile, laugh and tender demeaner endeared her to all who met her along her journey of life.
Joanne resided in Batavia, NY for 52 years, raising 2 children, caring for her parents and supporting the community. She moved to Middletown, DE in 2021 to be closer to her daughter and family.
Joanne loved the Buffalo Bills, cats, dogs, and birds, along with gardening.
Above all, Joanne loved spending time with her four grandchildren: Maddy; Lizzy; Sarah, and Mark. She welcomed Michael Shervin and family as her own, in 2021, gaining five step-grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren.
Joanne deeply loved her extended family: the Robinson, Payne, Owens, and Donner families, located all over the world.
Joanne is predeceased by her parents, her husband of 48 years, Dr. Lawrence Nacey, and her sister Elizabeth Breiner. She is survived by her daughter Ann Marie (Michael Shervin); three Robinson granddaughters, Madeline (Dan), Elizabeth and Sarah; son, Michael; grandson, Mark (Amanda); five Shervin step-grandchildren: Sam, Michael (Lynn), Danielle (Matt), Amanda (Joe) and Marissa (Steven); and five step-great-grandchildren: Kyle, Jenny, Emily, Nate, and Teddy.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 pm until 7 pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am the following morning on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Holy Angels Catholic Parish, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE. Family and friends are cordially invited to share condolences and fond memories on Sunday (Nov. 16th) from 1-3pm at the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, LLC, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia, NY. Funeral Services will be held Monday (Nov. 17th), 10:30am at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Lake Ave., Rochester, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, P.O. Box 4116, Corpus Christi, Texas 78469 or by clicking here, or to your local SPCA or animal shelter.

Patricia Nicholson
My heart aches for you and your family during this time of loss. Your mom was an inspiration to us all with her strong faith and kind spirit.