Nellie Lenore Oliveto

Nellie “Na” Lenore Oliveto, age 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep in her Aquebogue, NY home on April 20, 2020. She was born May 5, 1932 in Springhill, Nova Scotia Canada to Howard and Helen Spence. She left home at the age of 16 to come to the United States, where she worked for the telephone company.

Nellie married Richard Oliveto in 1956, and although the marriage ended in divorce, it blessed her with three children, Karen, Alison, and Lauren. Nellie was a devoted mother who worked hard and provided a home in West Babylon, NY that was always open to family and friends and was filled with much love and laughter. Nellie taught her girls that no matter how lean the times might be, there is always room for at least one more at the table.

Following her retirement from the phone company, Nellie cared for her mother in Nova Scotia until her mother passed away, and then moved to the North Fork of Long Island where she lived for more than 30 years. She was a volunteer at the First Congregational Church of Riverhead Alley Cat Thrift Store and active in the Riverhead Senior Center. She loved yard sales and would always be on the lookout for a special something for those she loved.

Preceding her in death are her parents and siblings June, Russell “Bodie”, and Anna Jean. Nellie is survived by her brothers, Howard and Frank Spence; her daughters Karen (Robin Ridenour), Alison, and Lauren (Larry Santa Ana); three grandchildren Sydney Santa Ana, Ariana Beaudoin, and Antonio Santa Ana, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. She loved her family fiercely and touched them deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be sent in her memory to the Reconciling Ministries Network 123 W. Madison St. Suite 1450 Chicago, IL 60602. (https://rmnetwork.org/donate-2/).