Nancy Jean (Renda) Criniti of Andover, died at home on May 18, 2023, after a courageous struggle with a hereditary degenerative neurological disease. Nancy was the devoted wife of her late husband Donald L. Criniti and the loving mother of Nicholas R. Criniti.

Nancy was born on March 24, 1964, to Francis and Jeannette Renda. She graduated from Haverhill High School in 1982 and the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1986.

Growing up, Nancy enjoyed summers at Hampton Beach with her family where she vividly recalled her memories of toes in the sand and sunshine on her face. In fact, Nancy was sunshine herself, always lighting up a room with her grace and loving kindness. She made everyone feel like the most interesting person in her life.

Nancy met her future husband at Fidelity Investments in Boston, where she worked in Human Resources and he in Event Marketing. A few years after their marriage in New Seabury, Massachusetts, Don and Nancy were thrilled to welcome their son, Nicholas.

The family loved to ski and took many ski vacations with friends year after year. Nancy, a natural athlete, and fitness enthusiast, taught at Bradford Ski Mountain and trained for and rode in the annual Pan-Mass Challenge. Nancy and Nick were devoted Boston sports fans who watched and rooted for the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox without fail.

When Don, the love of her life, died of cancer, Nancy and Nick bravely went about carving out a life without their rock. Within weeks, Nancy and Nick went to Disney World, and soon after, adopted puppy Marley. Both helped to ease their grief a bit.

Nancy spent the last few years slowly adjusting to another new normal when she was diagnosed with Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Syndrome, an extremely rare, neurodegenerative brain disorder.

As the disease progressed, Nancy and Nick were showered with love, prayers, food, and favors until the very end by family, friends, neighbors, and the Fidelity community, all of whom spent countless hours helping to ease the family’s challenges.

Besides Nicholas, Nancy leaves her mother Jeannette Renda of Bradford and her sister-in-law Barbara Renda, of Ohio. She also leaves the large, loving, supportive Criniti family in Connecticut.

Nancy was predeceased by her brother, John Renda, and her father, Francis Renda.

There will be a private family burial. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on May 30th from 4pm to 7pm at Andover Country Club.

Contributions in Nancy’s memory may be made to the Pan-Mass Challenge bike-a-thon, which raises funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research. Visit www.pmc.org/ways-to-give OR Hospice care of Tufts Medicine Care at Home, 360 Merrimack Street, suite 425, Lawrence, MA 01843.