Nancy Carolyn Rectenwald

Nancy Carolyn Rectenwald, age 89, of Louisville, KY, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 16, 2025. Born in Charleston, WV, on February 27, 1936, she was the beloved daughter of the late Alfred and Macel Smith. Nancy dedicated her life to caring for others through her work as a nurse. She worked various jobs while she earned her nursing degree, all while raising four sons on her own. She ultimately had a leadership role at a nursing home, providing care to nuns and priests in the home's memory unit. After retiring from work, she continued to use her medical knowledge volunteering with an organization that sent medical supplies to needed locations around the world. Beyond her profession, she was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, whose lives she touched deeply with her warmth and wisdom. Nancy had a spirit of adventure. She saw the lights of Broadway, the Eiffel Tower, the Tower of London, and even the jungles of Nicaragua. She dipped her toes into the oceans on both sides of this continent, and visited numerous places in between. Nancy also found joy in life's simple and beautiful moments. She loved gardening, reading, traveling, and attending the theater. She had a keen eye for art and decorating. In her later years, she discovered a quiet delight in birdwatching, often finding peace and wonder in the flutter of wings outside her window. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved son James Rectenwald, and her sisters, Patricia Horn and Bonnie Harper. Left to cherish her memory are her sons John Rectenwald, Joseph (Lisa) Rectenwald, and Paul (Cindy) Rectenwald; her daughter-in-law Kelli Care; her grandchildren: Joshua (Kelly) Rectenwald, Ashley (Jody) Heizer, and Narmeen Rectenwald; her nephews, and numerous dear friends. A remembrance gathering will be held at a later date in Louisville, Kentucky. Online condolences may be shared on Facebook or at SerenityFuneralCare.com. Nancy's legacy of love, strength, and kindness will live on in all who knew her.