Nancy L. Henderson

Nancy Henderson
76, of Carmel, Indiana, died July 16, 2016, of complications from Alzheimer's Disease, which she battled courageously in the last years of her life. Nancy approached everything in her life with enthusiasm, love, intelligence, and energy. An optimist by nature, she was also eternally curious, and endlessly creative. She used these traits in her marriage, her parenting, in the teaching and tutoring, and in her volunteer activities. She was a talented cook, who consistently used her culinary skills to build family and community everywhere she went. She never seemed to find a stranger, and was happiest with friends and family, or around any body of water.

The daughter of Henry Knapper and Edith (Sutton) Bilsland, Jr., Nancy was born in New Castle, Indiana in 1939. With her family she lived in New Castle and Kokomo, Indiana before they settled in Covington, Indiana while she was in elementary school. She enjoyed growing up in Covington with her sister Luci (Galloway) and her brother Hank, who survive her. It was in Covington that she met her lifelong partner, Mike, her beloved husband of 55 years, who also survives her.

After graduation from DePauw University, she taught second grade in both the Indianapolis and Speedway public school systems. Along with her husband, she divided her time between a home in Carmel and a home in Tortola (British Virgin Islands) where she was a member of St. Paul's Anglican/Episcopal Church. When in Indiana, she more recently worshipped at St. Francis-In-The-Fields Episcopal Church in Zionsville.

She was a loving mother to Brian (Louise), Lisa Acker (Rob), and Kay Gerhardinger (Joe), and grandmother to Glennis, Allison, and Kristen Henderson, Ian, Calvin, and Wils Acker, and Anna, Mary, and William Gerhardiner.

In addition to her family responsibilities, she volunteered at many different organizations throughout her life. She served as a president of the Salvation Army's Women's Auxiliary of Indianapolis, and once led the Altar Guild at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis. She was a literacy tutor at the Indiana Women's Prison, and served as a member of St. Margaret's Guild.

Nancy was always guided by her faith, and an enduring sense of gratitude. For many years, she kept a gratitude journal, and strongly believed that "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life."

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., at St. Francis-In-The-Fields Episcopal Church, 1525 Mulberry St., Zionsville, Indiana where she was a member. A reception will be held at the church at 12:30 p.m., following the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Indiana. Arrangements entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan-Carmel.