Nancy D Bymaster

It is with profound sadness we share the passing of our mother, Nancy D. Bymaster (née Gentelene). During the evening hours of June 10th, 2026, Nancy took her last breaths on her way home to her Lord. 

Nancy was born on July 15, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and spent her younger life living in Wauwatosa. After attending the University of Denver, she returned to Milwaukee, found love and married Eugene Bussian. Together, they settled in Rockford, Illinois and raised their four beautiful children. Later in life, Nancy found true love once again and married Larry …. ultimately moving to Phoenix, Arizona where they shared many happy years together. After Larry passed, Nancy moved to live with her daughter in South Carolina in 2012 and finally moved to the Still Hopes retirement community in 2021 where she lived her best life in her remaining years. Nancy dedicated her life to others and was a relentless volunteer until the end. She volunteered at her church serving meals and communion to those in need; she spent countless hours being active in her Panhellenic society (Sigma Kappa) where she was honored as the “Woman of the Year” in 2007 for her efforts; she created a program (SMILE) to help inpatients at Mayo Hospital have access to closed circuit programming made to make them smile; and was a Board representative at her retirement community.

Nancy genuinely wanted others to be happy and feel loved. Nancy was creatively gifted and enjoyed singing, writing and acting. She also loved being a friend, travel, planning parties, a fish fry, ice cream, laughing, costumes, crowns, sparkly slippers, peach kuchen, goulash, the Green Bay Packers, Blue Mound Country Club, opera, the USC women's basketball team, dogs, her faith…..just to name a few.

Nancy’s greatest testament to love was her incredible passion for family and being a mother…her greatest joys were her children, kindly referring to herself as “Miss Marie”. Nancy continued to be blessed with six grandchildren whom she loved more than words can express.

Nancy will now join her mother and father (Peter and Mabel) her husband (Larry) and her sister (Gloria) in heaven. Nancy is survived by four loving children, Amy (Charles), Beth (Paul), Martha (Morris), and August (Jo) and six beautiful grandchildren; Nathan, Kirstin, Lydia, Andrew, Maybel and Caroline, along with nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wants to recognize the exceptional care and support she received from Comfort Keepers staff in her final months, especially Laverne. We know our Mom is having a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious life now and missed by so many. Cheers Mom, here is to you. Good people are scarce.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Nancy’s memory to: Still Hopes Retirement Community at www.StillHopes.org/Give, or by sending your gift to Still Hopes, PO Box 2959, West Columbia, SC 29171, or to Eastminster Presbyterian Church at https://eastminsterpres.org/give/contribute/ or by sending your gift to Eastminster, 3200 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204. 

There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony on what would have been her 98th birthday, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Still Hopes Chapel, 1 Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia, SC, 29169. Please come dressed in colorful attire if you desire to attend. If you are unable to attend the ceremony in person, the service will be streamed and can be viewed here: Streaming link will be available closer to date of the Celebration of Life.