Nan E Ksanznak

Nan Elaine Ksanznak, 94, passed away peacefully at her beloved Cedar Crest Senior Living Community in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, on August 25, 2026. Nan found joy in her faith as a member of the Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland where she was also a member of the Miriam Circle. In Oakland, Nan also enjoyed time with her colleagues in the retired teacher book club of th Oakland Public Library.

In recent years, Nan also attended services with The Protestant Community at Cedar Crest and especially enjoyed her time with the church choir there.

Nan was born Nan Elaine Smith in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on July 22,1932. She was the daughter of the late Malcolm Franklin Smith and Marion Howells Smith. Mal managed grocery stores and let everyone know he named his daughter Nan (and not Nancy!). Marion was a homemaker extraordinaire and a pillar of her church community.

Nan married Larry Ksanznak in March 1954 and they were together in matrimony for 72 years, with a family of four children, five grandchildren, one great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. She adored all of her family members.

After spending her early youth in Park Crest, Nan's family moved to Hazleton, Pennsylvania. She attended Hazleton High School where she excelled in the classroom and was a member of the cheerleading squad. Nan was popular in school, being named most likely to succeed and was known for her beauty and intelligence.

Nan would have been an outstanding college student but as was a custom in her community at that time she went to work to help support her family and the education of her brothers, each of whom earned advanced degrees that gave her pride. For Nan, that included work as a telephone operator with the Bell Telephone System. Later, Nan was a successful employee at the Digital Equipment Corporation that helped fund the educations of her children.

When Nan married her lifelong love Larry Ksanznak, he was about to spend two years in the U.S. Army, including a lengthy tour in Germany. Upon his return they settled in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, where Larry began his career in education as an elementary school teacher.

As Larry proved successful as an educator, Nan supported his moves to Hamilton, New York where he was also a successful high school basketball coach as well as subsequent moves to Lawrence Township, New Jersey where he began as Principal at Ben Franklin Elementary School and, ultimately, Oakland, New Jersey, where he served as Superintendent of Schools.

At each stop, Nan took charge of organizing their new home, handling the family finances, entertaining friends, and raising four children who were blessed to have a mother with Nan's kindness, diligence, and constant support. Nan developed close friendships and was a valued community member.

Nan especially enjoyed her time at Cedar Crest where her caring and thoughtful personality was more fully on display. She moved easily among the people, facilities, and programs and enjoyed visiting the restaurants for meals with her husband and friends.

Nan's family would like to thank the hospice and coordinated caregivers who treated Nan so well during her time in hospice care and worked with Dad, especially hospice nurse Jerica Keegan and her team at Compassionate Care Hospice and the teams at Caring People and Angie's Angels. At Nan's request, Dad spent much of his time for the past two months by her side.

Nan's influence will remain in the lives led by those she touched by her example, wisdom, supportive love, kindness, empathy, intelligence, ethics, inclusiveness, guidance, thoughtfulness, insights, persistence, and patience.

Nan was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Lynn, her sister Carol, and her brothers Malcolm and Gregg.

She is survived by her loving husband Larry and her grateful children Larry Roberts and his partner Dr. Hyun Lee of Charlottesville, Virginia, David Ksanznak and his wife Colleen of Delmar, New York, and Jill Ksanznak and her partner David Grossman of Brooklyn, New York. She is also survived by her brother Dr. Jeffrey Smith of Fishers, Indiana, sister-in-law Jane Smith of Hershey, Pennsylvania, and sister-in-law Patricia Lynn of Rockaway, New Jersey.

Nan is also survived by her grandchildren Ian Ksanznak and his wife Lindsay, Katie Ksanznak, Drew Ksanznak and his partner Jessica Aldred, Thomas Roberts and his wife May, William Roberts, Bennett Grossman, Harley Grossman, great grandchild Miles Ksanznak, and many cherished nieces and nephews and their children. Nan and Larry hosted their grandchildren with kindness and enthusiasm for many summer experiences at Camp K at their home on Crystal Lake in Oakland.

A memorial service for Nan will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at The Chapel at Cedar Crest, Cedar Crest Village Drive, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.

Nan will be interred in a private ceremony at Sky View Memorial Park in Hometown, Pennsylvania, along with her parents, sister Carol, and daughter Lynn.

As an expression of sympathy in lieu of flowers, Nan asked that donations be made to the Lynn Ksanznak Library, c/o Ponds Reformed Church, 341 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ 07436. Donations may also be made to New Friends of the Oakland Public Library, 2 Municipal Plaza, Oakland NJ 07436.