Nancy S. Kissel 1936-2025

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 the Youngstown Hospital Association from 1961-1963. She joined the staff of Good Samaritan Hospital, Vincennes, Indiana (Aug. 2, 1965 to 1967) as a microbiologist. She was chief microbiologist at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, Dec. 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 and Samaritan Hospital in Ashland, 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 Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman.

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 her sister, Dorothy; as well as her stepfather, Herbert Vogelsang.

Calling hours will be noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, where a funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., with Pastor Richard Kidd officiating.

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