Nancy Elizabeth Wassel

Nancy Elizabeth Manross-Wassel of St. Petersburg passed away at 92 on August 18th, 2026. Born and raised in Mill Village, Pennsylvania, Nancy is survived by her husband, Dr. Harry Wassel; daughters Jennifer Bachnik (married to Eric Bachnik) and Kirsten Wagner (married to David Wagner); and grandchildren Shelby Bachnik and Ashley Bachnik. She and Harry moved to St. Petersburg in 1969, where Harry started his practice in Orthopedic Surgery. They have been married for 67 years. She was a stay-at-home mom who was always involved in her daughters' lives; she would volunteer at their school, supervise field trips, and work in the school clinic. One of their fondest memories is going to the beach and skipping school to go on shelling excursions. She taught her girls to put faith at the center of their lives and to treat others with kindness, generosity, compassion, and an open heart.

Nancy was beautiful inside and out—a woman whose warmth, strength, faith, and love touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. She loved life and embraced it fully. She found joy in her church, long days at the beach, searching for beautiful shells, tending her garden, spending time with family and friends, and, of course, a good party. She believed life was meant to be enjoyed, shared, and celebrated, and she had a wonderful way of bringing fun and laughter wherever she went.

Her faith was unwavering and remained a source of strength throughout her life. One of the most meaningful chapters of her life was her involvement with the Senior League at Garden of Peace Lutheran Church. She helped guide a group of approximately fifteen teenagers, becoming far more than simply a church leader to them. Together, they shared unforgettable adventures, including sailing trips to Belize, Bimini, and Puerto Vallarta. Those trips created lifelong memories, but even more important were the lessons she taught along the way about friendship, responsibility, faith, service, and caring for others.

Her home was always open. It was not unusual to find one or two of those teenagers stopping by, spending the afternoon, sharing a meal, talking, laughing, or simply feeling at home. She welcomed people without hesitation and had a rare gift for making everyone feel comfortable, accepted, and loved.

She was also remarkably strong. Life could challenge her, but she refused to allow difficulties to take away her joy or her faith. She faced hardships with determination, courage, and an incredible ability to keep moving forward. She rarely let anything get her down, and her strength became an example for everyone around her.

Above all, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and a beautiful soul. She had two beautiful granddaughters, Shelby and Ashley, whom she loved dearly. She helped raise them in their early years, creating a home filled with faith, laughter, adventure, and love. She taught her family to care for others, to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, to stay strong during difficult times, and never to lose their faith.

Her life was a beautiful reminder that the greatest legacy we leave behind is not measured by what we owned or accomplished, but by how deeply we loved, how generously we gave, and how we made people feel. Her love and memory will be with us forever.