Nancy Catherine (Bleistine) Waits, age 79, of Dover, DE and Atlanta, GA, passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Born in Wilmington, DE on August 17, 1946, Nancy was a daughter of the late George H. and Frances Elizabeth (Murdock) Bleistine. Nancy was a graduate of St. James High School and then attended Lady of Lourdes Nursing School to pursue her nursing degree.
In 1990, Nancy married Dr. Edward Waits of Atlanta, GA and began a 20+ year tenure in his Bariatric and General Surgery practice at Northside Hospital until her retirement. She spent 29 years of her career working at Northside Hospital as a respected and well-loved nurse manager. Nancy had a passion for teddy bears, crystal figurines, Elvis, chicken wings, Christmas and potato chips. She had such a caring and loving heart. She loved baking & decorating cookies at Christmas, swimming, watching boring sports games, helping with birthday parties and dying eggs at Easter and babysitting for Mary Catherine and Leila.
A talented potter, Nancy enjoyed working with ceramics, creating beautiful pieces that her family members cherished. Her greatest joy was traveling, whether she was visiting a U.S. city or exploring a foreign country. In her spare time, Nancy enjoyed working estate sales. Nancy will always be remembered for her kindness and compassion for those she loved.
In addition to her parents, Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of over 20 years, Dr. Edward Waits; and her brother, Thomas Henry Bleistine. She is survived by her siblings, Carol Bleistine (Beth Dellow), Peggy Irby (Alan), Joan Marcus (Bob), and George T. Bleistine (Nancee); and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews, who were a source of joy in her life. Nancy is also survived by Dr. Waits’ son Edward Waits, Jr. (Lisle) and his daughter, Kathleen Waits, and grandchildren Mary Catherine and Leila Waits, all from Atlanta and all of whom loved Nancy dearly.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 300 Marrows Road, Newark, DE, where a celebration of life will begin at 11 am.
In Atlanta, there will be a visitation for family and friends on Saturday, October 17th at 10:30am at Pattersons-Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd, Atlanta, GA 30328 with a Celebration of Life service to follow at 11:00am. Nancy’s family would like to invite everyone to have lunch immediately following the service in parlor. Interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.
The family would also like to give a special thanks to Jack and Diane Pettus of Dallas, GA for the hospitality & love you showed Nancy and for taking her in as a part of your family for many years after Ed’s passing.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy's memory to the Colette W. Bleistine Paying It Forward Foundation, 537 Stonehaven Drive, Townsend, DE 19734 or by Venmo to @CWBPIFF.
