The entertainment world is in mourning this week after it was announced that Nancy Sinatra, the childhood sweetheart and first wife of Frank Sinatra, passed away last Friday night. She was 101 years-old.
Her death was confirmed by her oldest daughter, singer Nancy Sinatra Jr.
“My mother passed away peacefully tonight at the age of 101,” her daughter wrote. “She was a blessing and the light of my life. Godspeed, Momma. Thank you for everything.”
My mother passed away peacefully tonight at the age of 101. She was a blessing and the light of my life. Godspeed, Momma. Thank you for everything. ??
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) July 14, 2018
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Nancy started dating Frank when they were teenagers and the couple married five years after they met. They had their oldest two children, Nancy Sinatra Jr. and Frank Sinatra Jr., while living in a modest apartment in Jersey City. During that time, Nancy worked as a secretary while Frank tried to get his career going by working as a singing waiter.
Frank got his big break in the 1940s, and the family moved to Los Angeles, where they had their youngest daughter Tina. Nancy filed for divorce from Frank in 1951 after the press broke the news of his affair with actress Ava Gardner.
Frank would go on to marry Gardner before tying the knot with Mia Farrow and eventually Barbara Marx before he passed away in 1998. In contrast, Nancy never remarried and devoted the rest of her life to raising their three children.
Nancy Sinatra Jr. and Frank Sinatra Jr. went on to have successful music careers in their own rights, while Tina worked in film production.
Despite their divorce, Nancy remained Frank’s cherished friend and quiet confidante until his death. She even remained loyal to him after his death, as she rarely even spoke about him publicly.
Later in her life, Nancy was asked why she never remarried. Her answer was simple.
“After Sinatra?”
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