Nancy Sanders Bartkowiak

Nancy Sanders Bartkowiak, born on January 23, 1969, in West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away on March 24, 2026, in Canon City, Colorado, after a courageous battle with metastatic ovarian cancer.
Nancy was a woman of deep faith, a devoted Christian whose life reflected kindness, strength, and steadfast love for others. She was known by those who loved her as friendly, generous, and courageous, and she carried those qualities into every part of her life. Her presence brought comfort and encouragement to family, friends, coworkers, and the many people she served throughout her nursing career.
Nancy graduated from Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida, in 1987 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Valdosta State College in 1990. After starting her nursing career, she soon followed her heart to a job in the Emergency Department at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Her desire to help people in their worst times and her calm strength in times of crisis eventually led her to Flight Nursing with Air Care for many years.
After moving to Canon City, Colorado, Nancy began working in the Emergency Department at St. Thomas More Hospital. She later served as Assistant Nurse Manager at the St. Thomas More Emergency Room, where her leadership and experience made a lasting difference. This path led her to her role as Trauma Program Manager for the past 16 years, a position in which she worked tirelessly to improve trauma and emergency care in the community. She was actively involved in many committees both locally and statewide, always advocating for the advancement of care and for the well-being of the communities she served.
Nancy loved being part of community activities and hospital outreach, and she gave her time and energy generously to events that brought people together and made a difference. She helped coordinate and participated in events such as Safety Jam, Night to Shine, Health Fairs, and Stop the Bleed, among many others. Her service extended beyond her profession, as she found joy in helping others and in supporting efforts that strengthened her community. She was respected not only for her knowledge and leadership, but also for the warmth and sincerity she brought to every endeavor.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George Allen and Shirley Sanders; and husband Slawomir Bartkowiak. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Amanda Penick, and her husband, Seth; her son, Allen Bartkowiak; her daughter, Julia Bartkowiak; her son, Adam Bartkowiak; her grandson, Lee Penick; her granddaughter, Alexis Bartkowiak; her brother, Ed Sanders, and his wife, Angela Sanders; her sister, Patricia Maddox, and her husband, Mark Maddox; and many more family members and friends who loved her dearly. Nancy's family was a source of great love and pride in her life, and she treasured the bonds she shared with each of them.
Those who knew Nancy will remember her for the grace with which she lived, the compassion with which she served, and the courage with which she faced every challenge. Her legacy is one of faithful devotion, professional excellence, and a heart that was always ready to help others. Even as she endured the challenges of Ovarian Cancer, she continued to meet life with dignity, faith, and a positive outlook. Though her absence leaves a profound emptiness, her life stands as a lasting example of love in action, and her memory will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Nancy's honor to either RiverCity Vineyard Church, Canon City, Co for benefit of Night to Shine or to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (tribute.ocrahope.org). A memorial service will be held the beginning of June.