Nancy L. Mroz

Berlin – Nancy L. Saunders Church Mroz, 56, of Park Avenue, Berlin, NY, died on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at Albany Medical Center after a long illness.
Born July 7, 1955, in Troy, NY, she was the daughter of the late Murry R. and Edna Weaver Saunders Sr. She was the wife of Michael R. Mroz, whom she married in Adams, MA, on Valentine’s Day 1998. A 1973 graduate of Berlin Central High School, she was a former member of the Petersburgh United Methodist Church.
Nancy got her first job at age 16 cleaning houses and babysitting. She then purchased an orange Volkswagen bug choosing to park wherever she wanted.  She worked for Avon for 35 years winning many tabbies and other recognitions in New York State. She was also employed by Taconic Plastics in Petersburgh, NY, for many years.
Nancy had many passions. She cared deeply for her family and friends, and she had a soft spot for animals. She rescued a stray cat from her son Shane’s grave which she kept for nearly 20 years until it recently died. Nancy also liked a good joke, liked shopping and cooking for her family and loved the holidays. Nancy will be missed by all who loved her.
Survivors include her husband, Mike, her sons, Jeffrey Church, Christopher and his wife Kristina Jewett Church all of Berlin, her 11 siblings, Joyce A. Saunders Ogert of Williamstown, MA, Murry R. Saunders Jr. of Cherry Plain, NY, James A., Charles E. and Scott Saunders all of Berlin, Peggy M. Saunders of Klamath Falls, OR, Debbie R. Saunders Linton of Williamstown, Daniel Saunders of Cherry Plain, Ethel M. Avery of Petersburgh, Carol Ann Purdy of Daytona Beach, FL, and Edgar Saunders of Watervliet, NY, and many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her son, Shane, who died tragically on May 8, 1989, at the age of 14, and by her cats, Special and Yellow, and her dogs, Dusty, Nicky and Redd.
Funeral services were on Tuesday, January 31, at 11 am in the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh; burial followed in the Meadowlawn Cemetery. Relatives and friends were invited to the funeral home for visitation on Monday from 4 to 7 pm.
Because of Nancy’s love for animals, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Shelter or Humane Society of one’s choice.