Obituaries

Nancy Marie (Naughton) Stopka of Panama City, FL and formerly of St. Charles, IL passed
away, December 7, 2022, at age 94. The beloved wife of Albert Stopka, Jr., who passed away in 2007, she
was born in St. Charles in October 1928. The youngest daughter of Mabel Healy Naughton and James J.
Naughton, she was the sister of Bonnie Naughton Schraemer and James Naughton, all now deceased.
Married in St. Patrick’s Church, St. Charles in June 1950, she and her husband were high school
sweethearts who celebrated 57 years of marriage. The couple had nine children. They and their spouses
are Jane Bigda and Steven of Mendon, MA; David and Christine Stopka of Gainesville, FL; Thomas and
Shirley Stopka of St. Charles; Kathleen Kirchler and Michael of Mobile, AL; Brian and Rhonda Stopka
of Panama City; Laura Stopka of Mobile; Mary Clickner and Michael of Tallahassee, FL; Suzanne
Lehmann and Nicholas of St. Johns, FL; and Albert and Shannon Stopka of Lynn Haven, FL.
Nancy is also survived by 25 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Elaine Stopka
Birlson of Dyer, IN; and dozens of nieces and nephews across the country. She is predeceased by one
great-grandchild, Thomas Stopka III of St. Charles.

Living in St. Charles for over half her life, Nancy and her family moved to Panama City in 1974.
A graduate of the former Mount St. Mary Academy in St. Charles, Nancy loved playing and
watching sports, being outside, decorating her home and traveling around the country and to Europe. She
worked a variety of clerical and retail jobs during her long life. An easy person to be with, Nancy had
many dear friends, some lifelong, while others were more recent. The highlight of her life was time spent with her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church when she lived in St. Charles and St. Dominic’s
Church in Panama City.

A wake and rosary will be held at 9 am on Friday, December 16 at St. Dominic’s, 3308 E 15th
St., Panama City. Her funeral Mass will be at the church at 10 am. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn
Memorial Cemetery, 2403 Harrison Avenue, Panama City. Arrangements are being handled by Yurs
Funeral Home and Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s name to the Renew and Rejoice Capital
Campaign to build the new Monsignor Crowe Community Center at St. Dominic’s Church 3308 E 15th
St. Panama City, FL 32405.

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