Pagano

Norma Jean Nixon Pagano, 96, formerly of Slippery Rock, passed away at the Apsley by Sunrise in Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

The first child of John Nixon and Josephine Coler Nixon, Jean was born on March 31, 1929, in Waterloo, Iowa, and raised in Lohrville, Iowa until 1946, when the family moved to Phoenix, Ariz.

While working and taking classes at Phoenix Junior College, she met the love of her life, Anthony Pagano, and they were married on Sept. 3, 1949. With three children, they moved to Lemont, Pa. in 1958, before settling in Slippery Rock in 1959. Their fourth child was born in 1964. Jean earned her Bachelor of Science in education from Arizona State University, taught at St. Paul’s (Butler) for two years and then at Slippery Rock Elementary and Middle schools from 1967 until her retirement in 1986.

Jean was very active in the Slippery Rock community, volunteering for parks and recreation, recycling, a bridge group, and St. Peter’s church. Her home was always welcoming to friends and family, a continuous Grand Central Station as she joyously referred to her home. Since her retirement, she and her husband wintered in Mesa, Ariz. They were married for 62 years, until his death in 2011. She moved in with her daughter’s family in New York City in 2016.

Survivors include son, Michael and Deborah (Meier) Pagano of Alexandria, Va.; son, Patrick Pagano of Wexford, and Mary Jo Sylvia; daughter, Mary Jo Pagano, and husband, Martin Toub, of New York City; son, Daniel and Lisa (Jockers) Pagano of Melbourne, Fla.; granddaughter, Gina Cirrito, husband, Vincent, and children, Ethan, Colin and Reid; granddaughter, Andrea Pagano-Reyes and husband, Dario Reyes, and children, Angelina and Marina; granddaughter, Tara Pagano-Toub and Grant Zempolich; grandson, Isaac Pagano-Toub; grandson, Anthony Pagano and fiancée, Abigail Malloy; granddaughter, Paige Pagano; and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents, daughter-in-law, Connie (Kivlan) Pagano; and brothers, Jerry and Paul.

PAGANO — Friends and family of Norma Jean Nixon Pagano, who died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, will be received from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 19, at SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

A requiem Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 670 S. Main St., Slippery Rock, followed by a lunch.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Anthony V. Pagano Mathematics Scholarship at SRU, www.sru.edu, or your favorite charity.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.