Obituary: Nanci Jo Berger
Nanci Jo Berger, age 62, of Atlanta, Ga., born in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 20, 1960, to Hugh Malcolm (z’l) and Rachiel Alhadeff Berger, passed away on July 30, 2023.
Nanci Jo Berger, age 62, of Atlanta, Ga., born in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 20, 1960, to Hugh Malcolm (z’l) and Rachiel Alhadeff Berger, passed away on July 30, 2023. Throughout her life, Nanci was faced with unrelenting physical and mental challenges but her indomitable spirit and soul, nourished by her loving and devoted family and friends, enabled her to live her best life in spite of the adversities that confronted her.
In the spring of 1984, a lifelong dream (and at the time, with nervous uncertainty for the future outcome looming) became reality, when Nanci moved into the newly opened Atlanta Group Home, beginning her life’s journey in an independent living setting that would serve her well for almost four decades. Shortly after moving into the AGH, Nanci returned for a weekend visit at her parents’ house. Up bright and early, with her bags packed and her bed made, which was unusual for her, Nanci’s mom asked her: “What’s going on? Why are you up so early and packed?” Her response was, she was ready to go “home.”
For several years, working at the pre-school for the MJCCA at their old midtown location, it would not be uncommon to find Nanci enroute to her job, patiently waiting for her transfer bus at the stop in front of the Trust Company bank on Pharr Road and Peachtree. In recent years, she had volunteered at the Bremen Jewish Home, spending countless hours assisting with the residents and staff. Whether she knew it or not, Nanci’s quiet determination provided inspiration to all of those around her. She loved word search puzzles, Bingo and was a passionate fan of the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldog football. Her recall and summary of the previous night’s Braves game was far more accurate and reliable than any beat writer employed by the AJC.
Nanci will be sorely missed and long remembered by all those who knew and loved her. She is survived by her mother, Rachiel Alhadeff Berger, her “big” brother, Harold, and his wife, Sally, her “little” brother, Mark and his wife, Lori, her niece, Terry, nephews, Julius and Nathan, several aunts, uncles, and countless cousins. She was also blessed to have a second family, her Atlanta Group Home family, and her passing will leave an immeasurable void in the lives of her housemates, Steve Schlact, Kenny Gardner, Suzie Zegers, and Vincent Thompkins and her house parents, Debra Abrahams, Wanda Ervin, Coclin Girma and Sarah Butler. She was predeceased by her father, Hugh, her grandparents, Hyman and Sally Berger, Joseph and Rebecca Alhadeff, her uncles, Dr. Gerald Berger and James Arogeti, and her aunt, Jeanette Arogeti.
Rabbi Josh Hearshen officiated the service at Greenwood Cemetery for those who were able to attend and a link for Zoom is provided for those unable to do so. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to honor Nanci’s life may be made to the Atlanta Group Home Contribution Foundation, Inc., 3095 Margaret Mitchell Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.
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