New Wilmington - Nancy Stephens Donatelli, 78, passed away Sept. 29, 2025, at Shenango on the Green Presbyterian Senior Care in New Wilmington due to complications of Parkinson's Disease.

She was born Feb. 21, 1947, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to the late William C. Stephens and the late Elizabeth Minser Stephens

She grew up on the family dairy farm, attended Indiana High School and graduated from Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse. She later obtained a BS from California State University and an MS from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Nancy married her husband, James, on Feb. 1, 1974, who survives. They have many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Nancy was a registered nurse her entire life. She was a life member of the Emergency Nurses Association(ENA). In 2013, she was elected as a Fellow in the Academy of Emergency Nursing. She was a Certified Emergency Nurse and a Certified Nursing Administrator. She was on the National Board of Directors of ENA and was the National President in 1988.

Nancy worked in hospitals throughout western Pennsylvania. Her first love in nursing was the Emergency Department.

She was the ED director over her career at Pittsburgh Hospital, Beaver Medical Center and St. Francis of New Castle. She also served at various hospitals as Director of Education, Occupational Medicine and as she moved up the ladder as an administrator, she had many other departments under her, including Geriatrics. She worked as Nursing Assessment Coordinator for several years at Shenango on the Green and filled in a couple of times as Director of Nursing.

She was a published author in her field and wrote many articles. She wrote a bimonthly column on Geriatric Emergency Nursing for the Journal of Emergency Nursing until unable to.

She was an accomplished watercolor artist, basket maker and talented in other areas.

She was active in her church, serving as both elder and deacon and on the Parish Nurses Committee.

She enjoyed her dogs, horses, painting, gardening and living on the farm. She also enjoyed traveling with friends to Canada and Europe. A highlight every year was an Old Girlfriends Trip — high school pals doing a trip ranging from a cabin near Cook Forest to Hawaii.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Adele Peters and Ellenore Bath.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at Smith Funeral Home, New Wilmington Pennsylvania, followed by a 1 p.m. service at New Wilmington Presbyterian Church. Private burial to be held later.

Memorial contributions may be made to Emergency Nurses Foundation, 930 East Woodfield Road, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173.