Nanette 'Nan' Cecilia Spinazza, 67

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of a beautiful mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, friend and teacher, Nan Spinazza. She left this world suddenly Oct. 11, 2024, and we are all grieving the loss of such a special person in our lives.

Nan was born May 9, 1957, in Kellogg, Idaho, to her parents, Louis and Betty Spinazza. Nan grew up in Coeur d’Alene and attended St. Pius Catholic School until eighth grade. Some of Nan’s fondest memories growing up were competing on the softball, ski and swim teams and going up to Schweitzer with her family. Nan graduated from Cd'A High School in 1975. 

After high school, Nan graduated from the University of Idaho, where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Nan thrived in college, making many friends and enjoying college life in Moscow. 

Knowing Nan meant knowing how much she loved her German shepherds. Nan was a devoted dog owner, spending most of her life alongside a German shepherd. She recently fostered dogs from the local community. She went above and beyond to provide them with a loving home and amazing life. 

Nan flourished as a teacher and loved her students. Nan was committed to being the best teacher she could be and took immense pride in her career. Nan began her teaching career at Post Falls Elementary and then moved to Fernan Elementary. The large majority of her teaching career was spent at Canfield Middle School, where she retired in 2020. Nan loved her teaching family at Canfield and had many special memories of her time there. 

In 1995, the greatest joy of Nan’s life was born, her daughter, Jessica Spinazza. Nan was filled with gratitude and love when she became a mother. She made sure that Jessica had all that she could ever need or want in her life. Nan made it a priority to spend quality time with her family and enjoyed taking trips from Italy to Maui. As one special friend said to me, “Nan would move mountains for her baby girl.” Nan loved seeing her daughter, Jessica, excel in her career as a nurse and watching her get married to her husband, Alex Marano, in 2022. 

Nan loved her family fiercely, and we will miss her beautiful smile in our lives. We take comfort in knowing that she is with our lord in heaven, where there is no pain or suffering, only the joy God promises us. She is survived by her loving daughter, Jessica Marano (Alex), mother Betty Bray Baker, sister Ginny Petersen (Scott), sister Julie Schmidt, sister Sue Spinazza and brother-in-law Larry Riplinger. Nan will also be missed by her nieces and nephews, who she loved deeply, including Jackie Kautz (Karson), Steven Petersen, Jeff Petersen, Jeni Riplinger-Hegsted (Adam), Travis Schmidt (Jean) and Nathan Schmidt (Denise).

Nan is preceded in death by her father, Louis Spinazza, brother Steve Spinazza, sister Teri Spinazza Riplinger and sister Monica Ann Spinazza.

A celebration of life for Nan will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at Real Life Ministries, 1701 N. Fourth St., Cd'A, ID 83814. Friends and family may sign Nan’s guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com. Personal memories and photos of Nan are encouraged to be added (uploaded) to the registry for all to enjoy.