Athanasia Carrel

Athanasia Carrel, age 80, of Kansas City, Missouri, was born on October 20, 1945, in Scotusa, Macedonia, and died on July 1, 2026. She passed into the tranquil arms of our Lord in Heaven, to be reunited with her father, Konstantinos Rizopoulos, and her mother, Ekaterini Rizopoulou.

Athanasia devoted her life to service and caregiving, offering steady skill and compassionate presence wherever she was needed. After joining the United States Army during the Vietnam War, she served as a Registered Nurse in Germany, bringing professionalism and calm strength to those in her care.

Following her discharge from the United States Army, Athanasia continued her vocation as a Registered Nurse in treatment centers, providing specialized care to adolescents, adults, and military members. With the same disciplined dedication that marked her nursing work, she pursued a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

After earning her degree, Athanasia became a Psychiatric Social Worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs in McAllen, Texas. Over a long and meaningful career, she provided expert professional care, emotional support, and steadfast guidance to Veterans—work that reflected both her deep sense of duty and her enduring respect for the dignity of every person she served.