Glenna Mae Wylie-Nelson
Glenna Mae Wylie-Nelson passed away peacefully at home on October 22 shortly after receiving her last rites from Father Reginald.
Glenna Naccarato was born May 1, 1936, in Priest River to George and Ruby Naccarato. She was the fourth of eight siblings and perfectly well-rounded thanks to her large and loud Italian family. Glenna was the first of many generations of her family to establish a life in Priest River.
Glenna married her late husband, Les Wylie, in 1954 and had their only child, Leslie, in 1955. For Glenna’s 40th birthday, her husband Les gifted her their forever home on Fourth Street. After 28 years of marriage, Les passed away and Glenna met Larry Nelson. Larry and Glenna married in 1987.
Though Glenna was small, her personality was big. According to Larry, “Glenna will be in trouble in heaven because she’s going to tell God how to run it!” Her granddaughter, Shan, recites family members saying, “God’s afraid of her, and the devil is scared she’ll take over!”
Glenna worked for Roger Gregory, her “second husband,” for 38 years at Coast to Coast (now Ace Hardware). She loved looking out her window and seeing her perfect garden. Fortunately, she had Jan Barbarino to keep her garden intact as she became unable to keep up with the garden’s demands. Glenna also loved gazing out her window at the beautiful Pend Oreille River and at the red-lit-up cross, her family donated to St. Catherine’s parish.
Glenna loved the kids of the Priest River community. She loved treating her grandchildren and their friends to well-deserved snacks at Mac’s and Burger Express after their high-school events. After all, going out to eat meant not messing up her extremely immaculate kitchen.
The holidays were extremely special to Glenna as she was renowned for handing out full-size candy bars in her witch costume on Halloween. She also loved gazing at the Christmas lights her great-grandson would decorate her house with during Christmas time. She’d boast about the festiveness of her house by telling people, “Everyone drives by reaaaallll slow!”
Glenna often tested her luck with Larry and her sister, Joyce, at the casinos. In her later years, she loved bingo Tuesdays at the senior center. She considered herself very lucky as she was the proud winner of many bingo door prizes and several casino jackpots.
Grandma Glenna (aka GG or Nana) left many generations on this earth: son, Les (Cyndi) Wylie; granddaughters, Terese (Brian) and Shanelle (Paul); great-grandchildren, Andie (Garan) and Von; and great-great-grandchildren, Ronan, Aksel, Octavia, and Osla. She is also survived by her husband, Larry; his children, Stacia (Jeff) Soukup, Ginger, Michelle, Mike; and numerous grandchildren; brothers, George (Jennie) Naccarato and Mike (Carol) Naccarato; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Glenna battled dementia for a few years and had a short battle with cancer.
Glenna is preceded in heaven by her first husband, Les; parents, George and Ruby Naccarato; and siblings, Joyce, Angel, Geraldine, Jeanette, and Doug.
A rosary will be held at St. Catherine’s on Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. The funeral will be on Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine’s with a graveside to follow. A reception will be held at the Priest River Event Center after the graveside. Instead of flowers, the family would like donations directed to St. Catherine’s parish in Priest River or Bonner County Community Hospital Hospice.
Sherman-Campbell Funeral and Cremation Services in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to visit their website at www.shermancampbell.com.