The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

March 27, 1950 - September 9, 2018

Nancy Jane (Gleason) Aronson, 68, died unexpectedly on Sept. 9, 2018 at her home in Waitsburg, Washington. Her funeral service will be held Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 E. Alder Street in Walla Walla, Washington. Burial will follow at Waitsburg Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life afterwards at the Lyons Building in Waitsburg, Washington. Everyone is invited to share a meal and memories with the family.

Nancy was born on March 27, 1950 in Wichita, Kansas to Bessie Lillian (Patton) and Joseph William Gleason. She had six siblings: Garry, Dale, Geraldine, Gale, Darrel and Ima Gleason. As a child, she lived on various farms in and around Topeka and Wichita, Kansas, and went to school in local schools. Like the rest of the family, she acquired a strong work ethic at a young age by working with her brothers and sisters milking cows, feeding chickens and raising turkeys and other farm animals. From her mother, she learned the basics of cooking for a large family, and other household chores.

In 1965, Nancy married Darrel Biolo and they moved to Ashland, Wisconsin. Her children – Janet, Darrel John, and Douglas were born there. Sadly, she lost two small babies, Patricia and Kenneth there, too. Nancy and Darrel divorced in 1976 and she moved to Walla Walla, Washington to be close to her parents.

In November 1977, she married the love of her life, Marvin Aronson, in Waitsburg, Washington, and the two combined their families. Children in the home now included her children - Janet, Darrel John and Douglas, and Marvin's girls - Daleena and Celena. Soon, their own child, Michelle, made the family complete.

Nancy worked a variety of jobs during her life, but her favorite was waitressing – she loved bantering with her coffee guys at the White Stallion Restaurant the most. She was also a partner in business with her husband Marvin, her brother, Gale, and her sister-in-law, Patricia Gleason, at A & G Texaco in Walla Walla for a number of years.

Growing up, family demands kept her from finishing high school. So in 2010, Nancy decided to continue her schooling and plowed through high school classes at Walla Walla Community College, graduating proudly in June 2011 with a General Education Degree and excellent grades.

Nancy's favorite gift to others was her food, and she was an excellent cook. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at her house are now favorite memories. Everyone was welcome. Neighbors, friends, family – all were invited. Her beautiful buffets put 5-Star restaurants to shame. She loved planning the meal, making all the salads and desserts from scratch, roasting the ham and turkey and most of all, visiting all day with family and friends.

She also loved puzzles and games of Yahtzee, collecting wolf figurines and wolf pictures, eating breakfast at local restaurants, watching TV with Marvin, teasing her friends and family, and playing with her beloved dogs and cats.

Nancy's life was a testament of love and devotion. Her kindness knew no boundaries. She opened her heart and her home to anyone who needed a hug, a cup of coffee, a bit of attention, a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with – or just a tasty meal. She will be greatly missed by all who had the joy of knowing her.

Nancy is survived by husband Marvin; sisters Geraldine (Allen) Freese, and Ima (Ray) Hardesty; brothers Garry (Carol) Gleason, and Darrel (Donna) Gleason; her children Janet (Roger) Lawrence, Darrel John (Marie) Biolo, Douglas (Amira El-Cherbini) Biolo, Daleena (Jim) Caldwell, Celena (James) Duff, and Michelle (Neil Arnold) Aronson. She has 13 grandchildren – Mark Jr., Keith, Kelly, Jessica, Jordyn, Tiffany, Emily, Brittnee, Brandon, Brady, Brooklyn, Jacob, Hunter - and a baby grand-daughter due in January 2019. She has one great-grandson, Nicholaus Adams. She is also survived by her beloved in-laws – Joe and Lola Aronson, Donald and Terry Aronson, LeeAnn and Jim Kendall, Shelly and James Done, Troy Aronson and Patricia Gleason and last - but not least – a multitude of cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Lillian; her children Patricia and Kenneth; her brothers, Dale and Gale; and her in-laws, Oscar and Clarise Aronson and Elaine Hoikka.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Judes through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 East Alder, Walla Walla, Washington.