Nora Nasif

Nora (Ahto) Nasif a 50+ year resident of Fort Lee, who lived a full joyous life filled with family and friends, passed away 8/15/2003, at the too young age of 77. Nora was born on October 2, 1945, the 4th of 5 children of Mary (nee Lutfey) and George Ahto in Jersey City, New Jersey. She graduated from North Bergen High School in 1963 and attended Villanova University where she earned a BS in nursing. She married her teenage sweetheart Louis (Louie) P. Nasif on January 22, 1967 in New Jersey and resided in Philadelphia where they lived until Louie could finish his dental school studies. They ultimately settled in Fort Lee, NJ where Louie started his practice and they raised their family. Nora was a caring, doting, and devoted wife who adored and was fiercely protective of her husband. They lived in the same home until Louie’s untimely passing in 2012 after 45 years of marriage. Nora is survived by her three daughters: Nora Rahaim (Joe) of Ridgewood, NJ; Cheryl Mignone (Ed) of Kaysville, UT (formerly of River Edge, NJ) and Lori Nasif (Sebu) of Oradell, NJ. She is also survived by her six cherished grandchildren, Joseph, Kara, Edward, Alicia, James and Samantha. She is further survived by her sisters Helen (Ahto) Montemarano, Larraine Ahto and brother George Ahto. Her brother Thomas predeceased her in 2019. Also surviving are her brother-in-law Alfred Nasif , sister-in-law Janice (Nasif) Senackerib (Joe) and sister-in-law Judy Ahto (wife of the late Thomas) and 10 nieces and nephews; her nephew Michael Montemarano predeceased her in 1989. Some words that come to mind when thinking about Nora are devoted, loving, dignified and of course exuberant and gregarious. Nora’s zest for life could be seen in everything she did whether it was planning a trip; preparing a holiday meal; hosting and entertaining in Fort Lee or relaxing at her and Louie’s little piece of heaven on the lake. She loved engaging in lively discussions of current events and enjoying a good meal with family and friends. Her laugh was infectious and she was the always the proverbial “life of the party.” Nora would often turn serious when expressing the pride and admiration she had for her three daughters. Watching them grow as mothers and professionals was her most prized accomplishment: Nora Rahaim, is the former Senior Director of Gift Planning & Principal Gifts Officer at Seton Hall University; Lori Nasif, took over her father’s dental practice in Fort Lee and Cheryl Mignone gave up a career in higher education when she moved out west, and became an entrepreneur opening her own successful business, Cheryl’s Bagels, in Bountiful, Utah. Nora always maintained an extraordinary close relationship with her siblings, and anyone who spent time with them when they were all together understood the depth of what 100 decibels sounded like. As they aged, the volume may have diminished, but the comradery and closeness continued on, as their most recent times together included quieter Saturday morning breakfasts of bagels with lots of cream cheese and laughs. Nora valued friendships to a fault and maintained exceptionally close friendships with her two high school besties, Joan Masella and June Kashishian, and her closest confidant Marge Pescatore. The family will receive their family and friends on Friday, August 18, from 4pm-8pm at the Volk Leber Funeral Home 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, 10:30am at Madonna Church 340 Main Street, Fort Lee, NJ. Interment following at Brookside Cemetery in Englewood, NJ. For condolences, directions, or information please call 201-836-0202 or www.volkleber.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Nora and Louis P. Nasif Scholarship Fund at St. Peter’s Preparatory School, 144 Grand St., Jersey City, NJ 07302. www.spprep.org. Nora led an extraordinary life and brought joy to all those she met. Now is not a time for sadness, but instead it is time to rejoice in her reunion with her true love Louie. “Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, in every gesture, dignity and love” – John Milton

Nora Nasif

October 2, 1945 - August 15, 2023