Nancy C. Sedmont (Bergman), of Brenford near Smyrna, passed peacefully in her sleep on Thursday October 24, 2024, at home with family and friends in attendance. She was 95.

She was born at home in East Prospect, PA and delivered by the town doctor, N. Allen Overmiller, her paternal grandfather. She entered the E.P. School in the first grade in 1935. It was a two-room school with one teacher for grades 1-4, and the other teacher taught grades 5-8. She then commuted ten miles to York, PA for junior and senior high schools. She graduated from William Penn H.S. in 1947, and then went to Millersville State Teachers College in PA. Her parents were Roy Allen Overmiller and Mary M. Shoff. They married in 1926. Nancy and her mom were active in the E.P. Zion Evangelical Church; and they organized the first Girl Scout troop in E.P. Nancy stated in her well-written autobiography that was published in 2015, that her parents gave her a wonderful upbringing; and that her dad was a great father. The title of Nancy's 233-page book is "Memories". It is a wonderful source of genealogical information of her first 18 years. The only person she knew at Millersville was Robert Bergman whom she had just met. It was then that she applied her calming solution in which she told herself: "others with less intelligence than you have done this and you can too." And then she would ask God to watch over her and guide her. This actually calmed her and carried her through many, many anxious situations. After two years at Millersville, Nancy married Bob Bergman. After Bob taught for a few years in PA, they moved to DE for a better paying teaching position. They remained in DE for the rest of their lives.

Nancy continued her higher education years later and became a school teacher, primarily teaching Special Education at the Clayton (DE) Elementary School. She and Bob had five children, all of whom are still living. She did have one miscarriage. Her children are: Bruce, Linda, Wayne, Brad, and Lori. Nancy has 11 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. Bob died in 1983. Nancy met retired Air Force Captain Arthur (Artie) G. Sedmont in July, 1985 in a summer college education class at then Delaware State College. They later called their meeting on of those "Magic Moments". Nancy became a dear friend of the Sedmont family. She and Artie always had a strong bond. When Artie's youngest child went off to college in 1995, Artie separated from his spouse. They eventually peacefuly divorced. Nancy and Artie married in the historic Barrett's Chapel in Felton, DE on Nov. 22, 1997. They weren't able to go on honeymoon except for a weekend in the Amish area of SE Pennsylvania because they were providing daily care for two, and then three, of Artie's granddaughters. Finally in 1999 after they no longer had those responsibilities, they embarked on their belated honeymoon in June. It turned out to be "The trip of their lifetimes"! They drove cross-country on a northern route visiting family and friends and viewing many national parks and monuments. They parked their car in Bellingham, WA and boarded the traffic Alaska Ferry. They spent 24 wondrous days in AK; then rode a bus down the Alaska Highway and spent nine days by train touring several places in Western Canada. In early August they got back in their car and headed down the West Coast visiting people and places. After leaving CA, they took a southern route and got back home after that fabulous three-month trip! During the ensuing years, they made many trips back to East Prospect to visit Nancy's brother and his wife (now both deceased). We also drove to York, PA for Nancy's high school reunions where she reunited with classmates Bob and Viv Fitzkee and Henry Harte. Artie became good friends with them and Henry's wife, Ginny. We also visited Nancy's sister Mary Jean and her husband in Lemoyne, PA, and Nancy's daughter and family in VA. We also visited Artie's relatives and friends and attended car club conventions and events in TX, IN, PA, VA, NJ, NY, MA, VT, and ME. We also drove to Key West, FL in a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood, and then to VT to visit the people and farm locations where Artie worked in the summers of 1956 and 1957 as a Vermont volunteer farm worker.

Artie loved to drive his cool, old cars (and even newer ones). But now he can only drive or ride for short distances due to pain. Nancy stopped driving years ago. Artie's mom, Bertha, lived with us in the old farm house; she fell in our porch and broke her hip. She was in a nursing home for her 90th birthday after hip repair; then she was cared for by Artie's youngest daughter, Jacqui, in her home in Dover, DE until her passing at age 93 in Oct. 2008.

During their 26+ years of marriage, Nancy and Artie continued his hobby of collecting special interest vehicles (mostly cars and two motorcycles). Nancy broke her left hip in a fall in our kitchen in 2007. After surgery and rehab, she returned home; but never fully recovered and eventually spend her last few years lying on our sofa during the day. Near the end, she could barely walk while using a cane. Artie walked behind her as much as possible. Artie became increasingly disabled because of osteoarthritis; yet for the past 3+ years he was Nancy's 24/7 caregiver in their home. Nancy was 95 on July 17. They decided it is time to sell the vehicles because Artie is too disabled to maintain them. So, on July 27, we had a car tour and celebration on our properties in Brenford for Nancy's 95th and Artie's 83rd birthdays and two of his military anniversaries. Artie announced to the 34 adult guests that our vehicles will be available at bargain basement prices by calling him at 302-652-8330.

Over the years, Nancy became hard of hearing and she refused to use her hearing aids so they wrote many notes to each other. Artie always thought of them as love notes. They addressed each other always as "honey"! For our 12th anniversary in 2009, we invited family and friends from church and our car clubs to join us at the Smyrna Diner. We had about 93 guests. It was the largest number at any of our celebrations. Artie played excerpts from some of his favorite pop songs for Nancy, e.g. "What a Difference You've Made in My Life" by Ronnie Milsap, and "More Today Than Yesterday" by Spiral Staircase. Fr. Mark Sullivan gave the meal blessing, and said some kind words about us. It was a wonderful celebration! On our 20th anniversary in 2017, we returned to the Amish area in SE Pennsylvania and we went on a guided tour during which we purchased a plaque that has our favorite inscription: "We don't stop laughing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop laughing!" Sadly, Nancy fell in our home on Aug. 17. She broke her right hip and severely damaged her right shoulder. She was in the hospital and rehab for 36 days. During that time we both contracted Covid-19. Her hip was repaired, but her muscles had atrophied. She came home on Sep. 23 with hospice. Despite hospice and the herculean, daily care provided by Jacqui and Artie, she kept declining. She was a gently, loving, intelligent, Christian lady. She was loved by Artie's four children, his 11 grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren, other relatives, and many friends. Nancy and Artie were the love of each other's lives! Their great love was clearly evident and was beautiful to witness. While Nancy was hospitalized, she twice told Jacqui: "Goodbye Jacqui. Tell your dad that I love him. I'm going to heaven now!" She will be sorely missed by the many who loved her!

Funeral services will be held 3:00 PM Thursday October 31 at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, with a visitation beginning at 2:00 PM. Fr. Mark Sullivan will reminisce about Nancy, and Mary Jean will sing "The Way We Were". The lyrics to that song are on the last two pages of Nancy's wonderful book. Burial will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Nancy's name to: Bayada Hospice, 4250 Lancaster Pike, Suite 308, Wilmington, DE 19805; or to a charity of your choice.

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Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.