MALONE — Nancy Marie Mills Bruso, 59, of Malone, N.Y. and Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away very unexpectedly Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, N.Y. Born in Malone on Oct. 29, 1953, she was the oldest daughter of James F. and Mary Louise Vercesi Mills. Her parents predeceased her in 1993 and 2002, respectively.
On Oct. 12, 1974, she was married to Joseph M. Bruso at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Fort Covington by the Rev. Eugene Beaudet and the Rev. T. Vinci. Her husband survives.
Nancy graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in Malone in 1972, along with her husband. While in high school, she received the Betty Crocker Baking Award. She graduated from Champlain College in Burlington, Vt. In 1974, with an A.S. in Accounting. In 1987, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Regents College, The State University of New York, now known as Excelsior College.
Mrs. Bruso worked for the Franklin County Department of Social Services from 1978-1986. In 1986, she purchased the former Leones Travel Agency and owned and managed that business as Gateway To Travel until 2002. From 1993 until 2009, Mrs. Bruso worked for Hospice of the North Country in many capacities as Director of Volunteer Services, Director of Development, Administrative Assistant and Support Investigator. She also worked as a Franklin County Court Attendant since 2003. In May of 2010 until present she began work as billing specialist for Dr. Nina Pierpont.
Nancy was involved in many community activities in the Malone area. She sat on the Board of Trustees for North Country Community College and served as Vice-President, Malone College Club and served as President, Holy Family Educational Council, North Franklin Theater Group Board of Directors and served as Treasurer, 1303 Club of Malone Lodge of Elks, Malone Town Republican Committee, One Worksource Board, Committee for Special Education as a parent representative, Malone Chamber of Commerce and served as President, Chairman of 1995 Malone Winter Carnival, Notre Dame Parish Council, Business and Professional Women, Clinton-Essex-Franklin-Hamilton Private Industry Council, Franklin County Senior Citizens Contract Committee, Franklin County Republican Committee and served as Vice Chairman and Treasurer and Malone District School of Religion .
Along with her husband, she was a member of Notre Dame Parish since their marriage. They were directors of the local Pre-Cana program for many years and they also served in the Couple-to-Couple Program at Notre Dame Church. Mrs. Bruso also taught many religious education classes at St. Marys and Notre Dame.
Nancy enjoyed collecting elephants and tea cups, scrapbooking, reading, playing Words With Friends, traveling around the world with her husband and friends, playing board games with her family, shopping, pampering herself with manicures and pedicures, and munching on chocolate, especially M&Ms. The most important thing in her life was spending time with her best friend, lover and husband. She also cherished her time with the pride and joy of her life, her grandchildren. During the winter months, she enjoyed having friends and relatives visit her home in Florida.
She is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Michael Joseph Bruso and his fiance, Toni Sanko of East Greenbush and Dominick James Bruso and his wife, Rebecca of Bangkok, Thailand; one daughter and son-in-law, Corinne Alice and Mark Fitzpatrick of Malone; four grandchildren, Brady Mark Fitzpatrick and Cora Elizabeth Fitzpatrick of Malone and Giada Marie Bruso and Elizabeth Jane Bruso of Bangkok; two step grandchildren Alisha Tobin of East Greenbush and Robert Tobin of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She is also survived by three brothers and two sisters-in-law, James F. and Eda Sue Mills, Jr. of Franklin, Tenn., Brooks C. Mills of Orlando, Fla. and Daniel J. and Christine Blossom Mills of Mahwah, N.J.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Louise and Richard Champagne of West Haven, Conn., and Alice and John Smillie Hall of Norfolk, Mass.. She is also survived by an aunt, Dorothy LaBelle of Malone and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her father-in-law and mother-in law, Howard J. and Dorothy M. Bruso; and her nephew and godson, Andrew Champagne.
Calling hours will be from Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A Mass of Christian burial and celebration of her life, will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at Notre Dame Church, Malone. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Donations may be made in her memory to Holy Family School Endowment Fund for Catholic Education in Malone, N.Y.
Arrangements are though the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Service, Inc., Malone.
