Nancy Kistler

Nancy Kistler left this world sadder and less vibrant on March 6, 2024.

The world received the gift of Nancy Ellen Kelly on September 17, 1953 in Burlington, NC. She was the loving daughter of Richard (Dick) Bruton Kelly and Kathyrn Kirby Kelly, and the younger mischievous sister of Richard (Dana) Dana Kelly. A member of the Honor Society, she excelled in school, graduating from Terry Sanford Senior High School in Fayetteville NC with the class of 1971. She developed her enduring friendship with Jean Ritchey in 5th grade at Vanstory Elementary and Karen Kistler in the 10th grade.

She loved spending summers with her grandparents and developed her deep and abiding love of the kitchen through her mother and grandmother, both phenomenal cooks. Demonstrating her exceptional culinary skills from an early age, she won the Betty Crocker award her senior year in high school.

She went on to Meredith College for her first two years and the transferred to the University of North Carolina where she received her baccalaureate in dental hygiene and English literature. She was Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred and would like you to cheer for UNC at any and all opportunity (especially if they're playing Duke or NC State). She moved back to Fayetteville and started her day job as a local dental hygienist. Her love of all things food drew her into her life as a chef at the locally renowned restaurant, De La Fayette, eventually rising to Executive Chef. She also operated a pre-eminent catering company in the area, through De La Fayette. In 1997, she met the love of her life, Charlie Kistler, and their romance brought her to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001.

Memphis was unbelievably lucky that Nancy made it her home. She was a member of the Brooks League for several years. She initially started back in her dental hygiene world, working with the local health department to improve the oral health of local public school children. As ever drawn to the kitchen, she also began as a Viking cooking school instructor before working for the French Master Chef Jose' Gutierrez at River Oaks, catering lavish events thoughout Memphis and into the Delta. She was a founding member and director of the Memphis Food and Wine Festival and worked with the Food Network and other print food stylists. She began working with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Culinary Medicine program in 2019, teaching medical students about the intersection between food and health. A life long learner, she had completed her certification in Culinary Medicine.

In addition to her enormous talent and skill in the kitchen, Nancy was an amazing wife and friend to all. She was a willing conspirator in her loving husband's travel adventures including frequent jaunts to Italy and France. She embraced the role of grandmother and lavished affection, including bubble baths and lots of chocolate, on her 5 grandchildren. Her generosity of spirit drew an eclectic and diverse group of friends to her. Left with a lifetime of wonderful memories is her devoted husband, Charles (Stinky) E. Kistler, III, her brother Dana, her stepchildren, Charles (and Amber) and his three girls, Mallory, Annie, and Charlotte, and Chrissy (and Jeff) and her two boys, Roy and Carl, all of whom miss her enormously. Her family is indebted to Helene Champ for her unwavering devotion and support. She was like a daughter to Nancy and loved dearly.

Never one to do anything by half-measure, she went out of this world on her terms, blessedly quickly, but much too soon. As she firmly believed that our real purpose on this Earth was to love each other and eat each other's cooking. If you cannot attend, please have a good laugh, a good drink, and a good meal and think of her. Everyone has a story about Nancy and we would love to hear them all.

Please share a memory of Nancy at www.canalefuneraldirectors.com. Arrangements by the Canale Funeral Directors in Memphis, TN.

Donations in Nancy's honor may be sent to https://culinarymedicine.org/health-meets-food-shopping/donate-to-the-american-college-of-culinary-medicine/, the ACLU or donation of your choice.

A service will be held at The Dixon Gallery and Gardens in the Hughes Pavilion and Terrace at 2:00 PM on Friday, April 26, 2024. With reception to follow.