Nancy Rendell | 1948 - 2025

A loving mom, a creative artist, and an advocate for others.

My mom passed away over Thanksgiving weekend. From the associated items to handle, the end of the school semester, and the busy December activities, there’s been a lot going on…thus no posts the past few weeks.

In some future posts, I’ll share some of the lessons we learned from the past few years, and final days, of helping my mom. But for now, below is the obituary my brother and I put together to honor her. My mom was a special person whom I want you all to know.

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Nancy Rendell of Austin, Texas, passed away on Sunday, November 30th at the age of 77. She was born on May 12th, 1948, in Austin, Texas, where she grew up and lived most of her life.

Nancy loved all things Austin. She graduated from Lanier High School, where she met many of her lifelong friends; she rooted for the Texas Longhorns; she had a taste for Tex-Mex and margaritas; and she spoke fondly of the many unique Austin landmarks that were cool before they became the crowded attractions of today.

Like the rest of her family, she was creative. She loved to sew, a skill and passion she picked up at an early age. She ran her own sewing business, designing, making and selling items ranging from clothing to housewares. She helped create elaborate outfits and themes for work Halloween parties and even wrote speeches and poems to accompany them. She also crafted costumes for her beloved grandsons, from Star Wars characters to fire fighters to race car drivers, depending on their interests at the time.

Nancy loved to travel, a trait she picked up from her parents who would take her and her siblings on road trips around the U.S. in their station wagon and home-built travel trailer. As an adult, she enjoyed seeing new places, learning the history of those places, and then trying to teach her sons to appreciate those places. They were unenthusiastic, especially as teenagers, but now as adults they embrace travel and history and appreciation of places in this world. She had an especially fond appreciation of New Mexico, it’s culture and scenery, from her time living in Los Alamos. Her sewing creations, Christmas ornaments, and home decorations reflected this.

Nancy had a heart for the less fortunate. She worked for the Texas Attorney General’s office as in investigator, tracking down parents who failed to pay child support. She really enjoyed her job, and she was good at it. After she retired, she donated her time and talents to put together tote bags with homemade items for children in foster care. And anyone who knew Nancy knew how much she loved the small dogs she had over the years—mini poodles she often rescued—who doted on her as much as she did on them.

She never met a stranger, always willing to jump into conversation with every passerby. They were often treated to stories of her past and of her family, sometimes unwillingly. She was a loving and dedicated mother who continued to provide life advice to her sons up until the end. She was proud of her sons, and they are proud of her.

Despite her many compounding health issues, Nancy was a perennial optimist, always finding and voicing the positives in every situation. In many ways, it was this positive attitude that helped her endure difficult and painful moments in life. Even through her last days, she remained a child at heart finding happiness in little things, like funny videos, jewelry, coordinating outfits, and Hatch Green Chile & Sweet Lime cookies from H-E-B.

Nancy loved people, loved music, and loved to dance. Most of all, though, she loved Jesus and found true joy in knowing Him as her savior. She looked forward to being with Him in heaven and no longer being in pain. Now she enjoys both.

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Nancy is survived by her sons, Brian (Michele) Rendell and Travis (Ashley) Rendell; her grandsons, Caleb Rendell and Ethan Rendell; her brother, Terry Schultz; her sister-in-law, Donna Schultz; and her dear nieces, Krista, Jenny, and Jessica.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Omar and Dorothy Schultz, and her sister, Diane Schultz.

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