Nancy Kissel

BOARDMAN - Nancy Stacy Kissel, 89, of Poland, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday June 26, 2025 at Greenbriar Healthcare Center in Boardman, OH.

She was born May 24, 1936, the daughter of Hugh Edwin, Sr. And Hellen Yerian Stacy and grew up on their farm in Poland Township.

She graduated from Poland Seminary High School with the class of 1954, and received her B.S. degree in Medical Technology from Youngstown University. She received her MT (ASCP) from the Youngstown Hospital School of Medical Technology and honors degree in Microbiology from West Virginia University where she was a fellow in the department of Microbiology of the medical school. In addition, she completed special studies in Mycology under Dr. Norman F. Conant at Duke University Medical School in Durham, North Carolina.

Nancy worked at Ohio Bell Telephone Co. as a switchboard operator from 1956-1959, and as a medical technologist at Youngstown Hospital Association from 1961-1963. She joined the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital, Vincennes, Indiana August 2, (1965-1967) as a microbiologist. She was chief microbiologist at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indians December 1, 1969 where the microbiology department served as a reference center for five counties. She also organized and ran a school for medical lab assistants and training medical technicians in microbiological techniques. Nancy worked as a microbiologist at Mansfield General Hospital in Mansfield, Ohio and Samaritan Hospital in Ashland, Ohio, and as a medical technician at Wooster Community Hospital, retiring in 1991.

She took great joy in updating laboratories with new equipment and training staff to better diagnose infections.

Nancy met and married her husband Carl Kissel in 1988. They both loved to travel and made many car trips, especially out West. They were fond of the off-interstate "Blue Roads" and made many happy memories together.

She was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church, Boardman, Ohio.

Nancy is survived by one sister, Marjorie Pelc, two nieces and two nephews. Eleanor Pelc and Cheryl Stacy De Fontes (Justin) and James Pelc (Lisa) and Edwin Stacy (Barbara), and six grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her stepson (Donald), her brother Hugh, Jr, and sister Dorothy as well as her stepfather Herbert Vogelsang.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday July 9, 2025 from 12-1 PM at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, where a Funeral Service will be held at 1 PM with Pastor Richard Kidd officiating.