On July 19, 2012 we lost a strong, feisty, loving woman. She is survived by her husband Stephan Edward Apple, her daughter Jennifer Marie Benca, her son Shaun Edward Apple and three grandchildren, Tanner Jesse, Conner William and Braden Conrad.
Nancy was born on December 21, 1955 in Vallejo California to Janet Ballentine and Clarence Evans. She resided in Vallejo most of her life and graduated from Hogan Senior High School in 1974. She married Stephan Edward Apple in 1973. They have been happily married 39 years. She worked in Vallejo at Coca Cola Bottling Company as an accounts receiving clerk for several years and then worked from home as a daycare provider. Nancy loved children and enjoyed being able to work from home doing what she loved and spending more time with her own family. Nancy and her family enjoyed the outdoors and spent many weekends camping boating and fishing. Fishing was one of her favorite past times.
In 1997 the Apples sold their home in Vallejo and moved to St. Cloud Florida to begin a new life in the country. They had a home built on a large piece of property where they could care for several animals they never could in Vallejo, living in the city. She was a true animal lover, always rescuing animals in need. Over the years she cared for many horses, cows, pigs, dogs, and even a raccoon. The cattle she owned were always her pets and even had names, which most people thought was crazy because raising cattle was typically for the purpose of eventually sending to the butcher. While residing in Florida, Nancy worked several years at Disney World in Housekeeping and Food and Beverage at many different locations. There she made lots of friends and always had amusing stories to tell her family when she came home.
In 2002 Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer and took a leave of absence to complete her treatment. She didn’t let the cancer beat her down, and before long she was in remission. In late 2004 she was cancer free!! Nancy tried to go back to work at Disney World but was unable to tolerate the heat after her year long battle with cancer. She found employment at Bank of America in St. Cloud as a teller. At the bank she could work inside in the air conditioning but still interact with people, something she loved so much. Again she made a lot of friends and became acquainted with many of the local patrons. Everywhere she went in town, someone always stopped her to say hello and talk. Her employment at the bank ended in 2010 and she became a small business owner by working from home creating personalized embroidered apparel. She enjoyed the flexible schedule and when her third grandchild came along in October 2010, Braden Conrad, she became his care taker while Shaun and Colleen worked. She thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to spend time with her grandson caring for him and watching him grow.
Nancy was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor on July 16 and was taken to surgery immediately the same week. It was during this surgery that the complications that followed took the life of this precious person we all knew and loved.
She will be greatly missed by all but will be remembered for her feisty personality and ability to always make you laugh. We have comfort knowing that she didn’t suffer and her spirit will remain ever present in all our lives.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18