WILMINGTON — Nell Elizabeth Mauney Ostby passed away on September 21, 2024. She was born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina on February 22, 1938 and was the daughter of Joseph Stanhope Mauney and Dovie
Harriette Rhinehardt Mauney. Both parents are deceased. Also Paul Edward (Rusty) Ostby her oldest son preceded her in death on August 14, 2005. Her maternal grandparents were John Lloyd and Nellie Belle
Wilburn Rhinehardt, and her paternal grandparents were Dorris Carl and Sarah Elizabeth Fisher Mauney.
Nell spent most of her elementary and high school years in Spindale, North Carolina and was a graduate of Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School in 1956. During the summer of 1953 and the school year of 1953-54, she attended Plonk School of Creative Education in Asheville, North Carolina. She was a Girls’ State participant and a Caravanner for the Luther League of American.
In 1963 after teaching English conversation for a year in the Irumagawa Junior High School in Japan, she returned to the states to complete a BA degree from UNCW with a concentration in Education. Most of her instruction time was spent with 9 th graders. During her first year of teaching, she developed the “Underachievers’ Program” for Junior high students which was given recognition by Dr. Haywood Bellamy Superintendent of New Hanover County Schools and the North Carolina Education Department. The following years were spent teaching 9 th graders and being a part time instructor at Cape Fear Community College. She was a participant in the summer North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teachers (NCCAT), President of New Hanover County Educators, member of the Christian Educators, an avid supporter for teachers and was dedicated to the goal of teaching the whole child. For many years she enjoyed sharing programs of faith with the Lutheran Church Women.
When asked what was most dear to her, she replied, “my faith, my family, my friendship circle, and my unique 9 th graders”.
In 1990 after the closing of Lake Forest Junior High School, she designed and opened the Cape Fear Christmas House in the old Coast Line Center warehouse downtown Wilmington. The store remained there until moving near Seagate on Oleander Drive in the late 90’s. The Cape Fear Christmas House, a family business, had been her dream for many years and reminded one of visiting Nannie and Papa’s home with “Visions of Christmas Love”. Due to family illness, the year/ round store closed in December 2008.
She was not only a caretaker for her oldest son Paul and husband Lon, but a caretaker for God’s earthly garden. Nell was a designer, a writer, and a dreamer who embraced a challenge. She had a special way of looking at a “cup half full “and always reminded us – God will bring something good out of this. He’s just like that.
Surviving are her husband, Lon, sons Joseph Michael (Kathy), and Daniel Peter (Clarissa), granddaughter Nicole Cheryl, sister JoAn Mauney Moses (Bill), dear first cousins whom she loved as brothers and sisters, and her cherished circle of friends.
A Memorial Service with Eucharist will be in the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church sanctuary on the fifth of October 2024, 1 p.m. A private burial service in the Ashe Garden will precede the Memorial Service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Ash Garden Fund or to the charity of your choice.
Please leave memories and condolences for Mrs. Ostby’s family here.
