Nancy Lillian Jacobo passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, at 5:11 p.m., at the age of 85, after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. She was surrounded by her loving family in her final moments.

Nancy was born on July 10, 1939, in Bloomfield, New Jersey, to Edna and Wilbur Carley. The youngest of four, she was cherished by her older siblings Billy, Ralph, and Doris. She spent her early years in Bloomfield and Caldwell, New Jersey, with a brief time in South Bend, Indiana, following the passing of her mother.

A dedicated caregiver throughout her life, Nancy pursued nursing and graduated from Jersey City Nursing School, becoming a registered nurse. While working at Memorial Sloan Kettering, she was introduced on a blind date to the love of her life, Dr. Miguel Jaime Jacobo. They married on February 14, 1963 — a Valentine’s Day beginning to a lifelong love story.

Together, Nancy and Jaime spent time in the Dominican Republic, Jaime’s homeland, before relocating to Kentucky and then East Chicago, Indiana, as Jaime pursued his medical career and U.S. citizenship. They eventually made their home in Munster, Indiana, where they raised three daughters along with a rotating family of beloved pets. Nancy loved living close to Chicago and she really made it her cultural home.

Nancy played an integral role in Jaime’s medical practice, serving as both nurse and office manager, always ensuring they took a daily coffee break at 3 p.m. Her compassionate spirit, sharp wit, and unwavering advocacy for those in need defined her life. She was deeply passionate about animal welfare, social justice, and the values of her political heroes, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

After retiring in 1996, Nancy and Jaime moved to Miami, where they embraced the vibrant culture and community. Nancy worked hard to live a life more fully Spanish speaking, and enjoyed the challenge of immersing herself in a new environment. Following Jaime’s passing in 2009, she relocated to Boston to be closer to her daughters and grandsons. In Boston, she remained active — attending church, volunteering, and visiting the Museum of Fine Arts,
often on her own.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2017, Nancy was cared for by her family until transitioning to Windrose of Woburn in 2023, where she received loving and attentive care until her passing.

Nancy is survived by her daughters Mariana Jacobo (Isidro Balbuena) of Miami Springs, FL; Michelle Jacobo (Pat Zudeck) of Arlington, MA; and Melissa Jacobo of Arlington, MA. She is also survived by her beloved grandsons, Jackson Jacobo of Chicago, IL, and Matthew Jacobo of Arlington, MA; her niece Denise Hayes of Florida; her nephew Chris Carley of Bloomfield, NJ; and her “namesake” niece Nancy Sue Tortoriello of Caldwell, NJ.

A private family service will be held, and a memorial celebration of Nancy’s life is planned for this summer. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Nancy’s honor.