Laura Nadine Tornatore, 77, of Charlottesville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at the University of Virginia Hospital, surrounded by her beloved daughters and their families.

Born September 26, 1947, in Nelson County, Virginia on Poor House Hollow Farm. She was the daughter of George Caskie Harris and Ruth Helena Powell.

Nadine as her family and friends called her, graduated from Albemarle High School Class of 1965. Throughout her life she worked as a preschool teacher at 7th Day Adventist, in the office of The Overhead Door Company, the UVA NICU as a HUC, and as an administrative assistant in the Department of Pediatrics (Neonatology Division, By Your Side Peds and Rheumatology). While also helping her loving husband Skippy with the family business Helen and John’s Grocery, in the Woolen Mills neighborhood for over 40 years.

Nadine cherished the moments spent with her husband, family, and friends. She valued the gatherings with her close-knit group from Greenwood, relished bus trips organized by Cross Tours, and found fulfillment in working with children and serving her community. She delighted in attending gospel music performances and concerts featuring Jimmy Fortune, and she took great joy in decorating for Christmas, her favorite time of the year. She was a dedicated member of Calvary Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher for numerous years. In 2009, she took great pleasure in participating in the establishment of The Point Church, where she continued to serve and attend faithfully.

Nadine was a steadfast believer in Jesus Christ, and her faith was reflected in her daily life. Embodying the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman, she was guided by her values and exhibited strength and integrity. Respected by those around her, she brought honor to her husband and demonstrated a strong work ethic. Generous towards the poor and needy, she ensured her family’s well-being while being trustworthy and holding a deep reverence for the Lord. She truly embodied the spirit of Proverbs 22:6 while nurturing her daughters, she also left a lasting influence on her grandchildren and the children she worked with throughout the years.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Matthew Curry and the Family Medicine team, the MICU team, and the Palliative Care team at UVA. They would especially like to thank Dr. Jonathan Grubbs, who provided exceptional care and support over the last nine weeks.

She is survived by her three daughters: Wendy Haney (Mike), Missy Hyatt (Nat), and Melanie Williams (Nathan). She adored her seven grandchildren: Austin and Ashley Haney, Caleb Gunther, Kim Nelson, Sean Williams (Heather), Jessica Williams (Christian), and Katelyn Williams. Additionally, she cherished her two great-grandchildren, Skylar Dawn and Jonathan David Williams. She is also survived by three sisters: Margaret Gibson, Betty Fields, and Brenda Shifflett (Gene), as well as one brother, Jeff Harris, and sister-in-law Linda Harris. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Vickie Blackwell (David), who often visited and checked on her.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, John J. “Skippy” Tornatore, III, as well as her great-grandchild, baby Williams. She also mourned the loss of her sister, Frances Hunt, and her brothers, Jerry and David Harris. Additionally, she was preceded by her brothers-in-law, Leslie Hunt, Frances Gibson, and W.C. Fields.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment Advancement@viacenters.org, or to The Point Church’s Reach Ministries, located at 155 Hansen Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22911.

For more on services and to share your condolences, visit Hill and Wood Funeral Service.