Mitchell Funeral Home
Nicolas Serpa, 49 passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 25th, 2024. He was born in Boise, Idaho and lived there until he was about 10yo, then raised in Hornell, NY. He graduated from Hornell High School, then joined the US Military as a Marine. He then attended Alfred State and studied Horticulture. He lived mainly in North Carolina while in the Marine Reserves. He eventually landed in Raleigh NC. It is in Raleigh that he built his own business Serpaco Painting and met his wife. He obtained a real estate license and a General Contractors license and then created Genesys Contracting.
Nick as a teenager loved and learned skiing, BMX biking, riding motorcycles, skateboarding, tennis, and golf. He later taught his daughters in some of these, but especially loved to coach his daughters in any way he could but mainly in tennis. He loved to share his passions with others. One example of this was when he found a boy on the tennis court all alone and decided to coach him for a brief time just before a coaching session with his team. He used every opportunity to educate anyone about anything sharing his vast knowledge of music, the bible, tennis, how to build something, and many of his thoughts on the mundane experiences of day to day to life. Nick was part of a band in high school and played the electric guitar and continued to expand his skills into his adulthood, often taking his headphones, a seat to a quiet room and having his own jam session, all the while being self-taught.
Nick was devoted to his family. He always looked for ways to provide as much as possible for his family while always putting himself last. We've come to realize that this most likely caused him unhealthy stress which resulted in putting off his own medical needs year after year. He often said "don't worry about it". Which we have come to learn really meant, "I'll worry for you."
He will be missed and remembered for the many Nickisms he gave to the animals in the house, his wife, daughters and even friends, acquaintances, and strangers. He loved to listen to his collection of 80's heavy metal CD's while riding in his pickup truck. He loved to cook for his family and friends but also enjoyed perfecting his own recipes for pizza, wings, salsa, chip dip, and ribs. He looked forward to the annual summer beach trip with his family. He typically got burnt on day one and then spent the remainder of the trip taking in the ocean and conjuring up many of his "genius ideas" . He enjoyed movie night with his family especially his favorites (like Dodgeball and many 80's classics). When he played games, he was fiercely competitive. He especially enjoyed a good game of ping pong, darts, and Euchre but hated it when he was forced to play Heads up with his family as charades was not his strength.
He is survived by his wife, Shannon "Shanbo", his daughters Allie "Allie Noel", Reese "Reesy Dean", his sister Madeline "Miggity", his mother Anne "Annie Po" his father, James "J Ditty", the family cat Poe "Kitty Kill", the family dog Birdy "Precious" and many other friends and family.
A Celebration of Life will be held to honor Nick Serpa on Saturday June 15th at 11:30am. The location will be at The Barrel Room at Lynnwood Brewing Concern at 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27604. All are welcome to stop in, say hello, share memories and visit between 11:30am-3:30pm.
LINKS
Hornell Evening Tribune
http://www.eveningtribune.com
Memories
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Guestbook