Her readers knew how much she cared about her job.
But her family knew what she really cared about.
Nancy Mortimer-O’Brien, longtime journalist and former editor of the Northeast Philadelphia Breeze, which covered Lawncrest, Lawndale, Fox Chase, Burholme and Olney, passed away earlier this month after a lengthy illness. She died one week before her 79th birthday.
Anyone who read her publications, be it the Breeze or at the Daily News, where she worked previously, knew how much care she put into her stories.
“She loved us a lot, and we loved her,” said Joey Mortimer, her nephew. “She came to everything we did, especially when we were little. T-ball, soccer, Holy Communion. She was always around and always made us feel special.”
The Oak Lane native and graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School studied journalism at Temple University. After building a very successful career, she married her husband John O’Brien in 1991.
“She loved him so much,” Joey said. “They were always together, and loved spending time together.”
She loved spending time with her family, especially her sister, Sister Eileen Mortimer, SSJ, who preceded her in death. She also enjoyed visiting her sister Kathy Mortimer in British Columbia. She also had two brothers, Tom and Joe, whom she was very close to, as well as many nieces and nephews.
After retirement, she split her time between Naples, Florida, and Ambler. When she wasn’t at home with her husband, she was traveling around with him. That made her happy, but nothing made her happier than being with her loved ones.Â
“She was the best aunt,” Joey said. “She was very religious. Religion was very important to her and she passed on her love of God to us. She was just a very special person. We’ll all miss her.”
A funeral Mass was held at Resurrection.
