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Nancy Allinger Comerford Nancy Allinger Comerford, beloved wife, sister, and friend, passed away on June 6, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. She was 71 years old. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Nancy Denise Allinger was the second of four sisters: Donna Ramholz, Ginny Allinger, and Bonnie Peterson. She met the love of her life, Matthew Comerford, in junior high school, and the two were inseparable from then on. They shared 48 years of marriage, a partnership built on deep affection, a shared passion for music, and the easy companionship most people spend a lifetime seeking. Nancy stood by Matt's side as he pursued a career in professional music, including Chicago theatres and national touring companies, the Chicago Symphony, and the Lyric Opera House. Her pride in him was clear to everyone who knew them. Nancy's professional life was a testament to her intelligence, determination, and grace. She spent 37 years at Motorola, starting in the factory. Nancy rose to become Senior Marketing Executive for the company's cellphone division, a remarkable achievement for a self-educated woman in a demanding corporate environment. She was known for her exacting standards and insistence on accuracy. In retirement, she carried these values into her volunteer work at her new home, where she made meaningful contributions to website development and community life. After years in the Chicago area, Nancy and Matt made their home in Rancho Mirage, California, where the desert landscape became a backdrop for the active, engaged life she refused to give up despite her battle with cancer. She hiked. She practiced yoga. She exercised with discipline and quiet determination, all while waging a private battle most people never fully grasped. That was Nancy. Nancy had an extraordinary gift for making others feel at ease and devoted her energy to the people in front of her rather than to the burden she carried. Music and theatre permeated every aspect of her being. She had a beautiful voice, enjoyed singing, studied piano, loved acting, and had aspired since childhood to become a dancer. A voracious reader, she relished diverse conversations, whether about politics, technology, or her latest discoveries. Nancy combined wit, style, charm, and empathy with a rare talent for making each person she spoke with feel truly understood. She is survived by her husband, Matthew Comerford, and her sisters, Ginny and Bonnie. In her memory, the family welcomes donations to a breast cancer awareness organization of your choice or to City of Hope's Cards of Hope program. From one of Nancy's favorite books, The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest: "You are meant to change. You are meant to change your mind. You are meant to evolve, to adapt, to grow, to shed old layers... Realize that we don't ever really have to let go; we just have to accept what's already gone." Rest in peace, Nancy. We will always miss you.

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Nancy Denise Comerford

June 28, 1954 - June 6, 2026