Tiffany Lynn Nardella

Tiffany Lynn Nardella, 52, of Somerdale, NJ, took to eternal flight on Friday July 10, 2026. Born in Clifton Springs, NY, she was the loving daughter of Rebecca Jane Hesbon and the late Graham Smith; devoted wife and life partner to Michael Nardella.

A graduate of Midlakes High School, she attended the Rochester Institute of Technology where she studied civil engineering until her passion for social work came into focus. She was driven to make the world a better place for others and set out on a path to do so.

Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree, she spread her wings and moved to Philadelphia, which quickly became home for her; she fell in love with the city and its people.  Tiffany went on to receive her Master of Library Information Science from Drexel University, fulfilling her desire to provide access to programs and services for the numerous communities that she would ultimately serve.

After working at CHOICE and The University of the Arts, she began her career at the Free Library of Philadelphia, where she ascended to branch manager and administrator, taking on roles that were critical to its mission.  She loved her job and the people she worked with and supervised, her collective library family.  The work was often challenging but she found it to be deeply meaningful and rewarding.

In 2011, Tiffany met the love of her life and best friend, Michael.  The feeling was mutual, and two years later they exchanged vows in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, a place they had visited earlier that aligned with their love of live music and cultural activities.  Prior to their wedding, they had adopted their beloved pit bull Comet, a one-year-old rescue pup who would prove to be the sweetest, most loving boy. He quickly adhered to their side – mostly Tiffany’s – as they embodied the same unwavering spirit and lust for life.  They built their cozy nest together, serving as shelter for all of life’s challenges that would lie ahead.  Never content with confinement, she made full use of her time to explore beyond the status quo, always maintaining that being with Michael allowed her to be her true free-spirited self and included much dancing in the kitchen – a precious side meant for his eyes only.

Along her journey, Tiffany was an active member of DENJPA and Living Beyond Breast Cancer.  She devoted much time and energy to advocating legislative action for more research and funding and held special bonds with her fellow survivors.  She was an avid cyclist and member of the Young Survival Coalition (YSC Philly) and participated in the annual East Coast Tour de Pink for many years.  When she could no longer ride, she turned her focus towards volunteer work, serving as an English tutor for refugees at the Camden County Library and volunteer at PAWS Philadelphia.  She was inclined to give back to society for the greater good.

When she wasn’t enduring treatment, she immersed herself in nature and the outdoors.  She enjoyed camping, hiking, gardening, kayaking, paddleboarding, yoga, swimming, and beach days – her ultimate happy place.  She also became enamored with birds and had transformed her backyard into a thriving habitat for numerous species, notwithstanding the squirrels; the sound of chirping was music to her ears.

She loved to travel, whether it be to a Library conference in Denmark with colleagues, a train ride to Montana with her mom Becky, an Airbnb in Venice Beach with in-laws Brian & Lynne, or a secluded cabin in the woods with her chosen family Dave, Jackie, Jason & Carolyn.

Tiffany will always be remembered for her compassion towards others and her ability to face life with grace, strength and humor.  She was an inspiration to others, a caring and genuine person who achieved her goal of making the world a better place for everyone who came to know and love her.

She is survived by her brothers Matt Cramer (fiancé Robin) and Chris Smith (wife Tracy); her sister Jennifer Smith Vorrasi (husband Tony); her sisters-in-law Lori Kozlosky (husband Mark), Lisa Nardella and Lynne Nardella (husband Brian); her Aunt Barb and Uncle Jim Sanford; her Cousin Samantha Sanford-Mereau (husband Matt); her nephews and nieces Dane (wife Erin), Devin, Graham, Caitlin, Colin, and Mia.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her mother-in-law Judith Nardella; her brother-in-law Brian Nardella; her cherished fur-babies Willow, Sabrina and Comet.

Her father-in-law Louis Nardella came to pass shortly afterwards; her resilience and positive attitude provided much inspiration for him in his final months.

A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday August 29th at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave. Haddonfield, NJ.  Relatives and friends are invited to greet Tiffany’s family from 12 – 1:15pm. Words of Remembrance will begin at 1:30pm, and post-gathering will conclude at 3pm. Anyone wishing to attend the Words of Remembrance virtually, please email kainmurphy@comcast.net for the Zoom information.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made in Tiffany’s name to the following organizations:
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (www.lbbc.org)
Metavivor (www.metavivor.org)
Unite For Her (www.uniteforher.org)