Nancy Martz

Nancy Ann Martz, 70, of Greensburg, passed away Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital. She was born April 21, 1951, in Donora, a daughter of the late Thomas Joseph and Ann (Petrus) Hudak. Nancy graduated from Edinboro State College (now university) with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and bachelor's and master's degrees in library science. In 1972, she accepted a position with Greensburg Salem School District, first working at Nicely Elementary, where she met her husband, James R. Martz. When she moved to the middle school, she took a library of 2,300 books and turned it into 23,000. Nancy brought both national and statewide reading programs to the middle school and made the school library an amazing place to learn. She was credited with integrating the newest technology into the library setting. Nancy also founded the Westmoreland Interscholastic Reading Competition, which continues to this day, with schools participating from all over western Pennsylvania. She was a member of a number of professional organizations including: Westmoreland County Association of School Librarians, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association and the American Library Association. Nancy was a professor of library sciences at Saint Vincent College. She was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, where she served as a Eucharistic minister. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James; sister-in-law, Dorothy A. Hudak, and brother-in-law, John Dutchko. Surviving are her sister, Margaret "Margie" Dutchko; brother, Thomas F. "Tom" Hudak (Pamela Nilson); three nieces, Donna Dutchko, Diane Boyle and Debra Keating; one nephew, Thomas D. Hudak; nine godchildren; and numerous cousins. Family and friends will be received from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in the KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME, 524 N. Main St., Greensburg. Parting prayers will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. A funeral Mass will follow at 9:30 a.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 300 N. Main St., Greensburg. Interment will follow in the Twin Valley Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Nancy's name to Dale P. Latimer Library at St. Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650, or the Greensburg Salem High School Library, 65 Mennel Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.