Nancy Campassi

NANCY CAMPASSI

Nancy McConnell Campassi, born November 9, 1930, passed away on January 4, 2021 at the
age of 90, surrounded by her family that loved her. She left behind her two children Kyle
McConnell (Neva), and Leanne Hardin (Chris), both being her pride and joy. She also left behind
six grandchildren, Suzy Robertson, Mallory Baucom, Casey Thomas, Morgan Henry, Emily
Harrison, and Jayce Hardin, and her ten great-grandchildren. Nothing brought her more joy
than seeing her grandchildren become parents and her great-grandchildren growing, learning,
and thriving.
Nancy was born in the small town of New Madrid, Missouri to her parents Henry, “Buddy,” and
Mary Coon. From a young age, Nancy was a devout Catholic and a force to be reckoned with,
never stopping until her ambitions were achieved. She converted to Catholicism at the age of
nine, and fiercely loved the Catholic Church the entirety of her life.
She believed in a strong education and loved to continually educate herself while pursuing the
hobbies she loved such as flowers, cooking, and letter writing. Nancy loved floral design, and
she owned and operated the Gazebo Garden Center in Columbus, Mississippi for many years.
She taught herself how to cook and bake, and her family loved when they were able to pick
their annual birthday dessert from “Nan” - she could bake them all from scratch with a whole
lot of love. She had a passion for writing letters and was still writing to many up until the weeks
before she passed away. She had a great talent for written expression, and her words will be
cherished by many.
Nancy had a strong passion for both fashion and candy. She was always dressed beautifully to
the nines, and her granddaughters were always borrowing her clothes and jewelry. Others were
shocked when they learned they had borrowed the items from their grandmother - she always
had the best sense of style and loved to go on a shopping spree!
It was no secret that she had a large sweet tooth and that she undoubtedly passed this trait on
to all of her great-grandchildren. She always had a box of Russell Stover chocolates for herself
and a large stash of all types of candies for her great-grandchildren. They knew that Nan
always had their favorites when they visited her, and she would always send them home with a
bag of candy for later. She would be proud that they think candy counts as a meal!
A funeral Mass will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church on Friday, January 8, 2021 at
11:00 AM. Immediately following will be a graveside service at Friendship Cemetery. All
pallbearers will be members of the family. In lieu of flowers, please send Memorials to
Annunciation Catholic School Capital Campaign at 223 North Browder Street, Columbus,
Mississippi 39702 or the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability at 326 Hardy Road,
P.O. Box 9736, Mississippi State University, Mississippi 39762. We will always carry her
memory in our hearts. “Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her."