Carol Lynn (Byron) Rydell

Carol L. Rydell (Byron), 75, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Lewis Gale Hospital in Salem, after a long battle with MS, Lymphoma, and numerous complications from emergency colon surgery two weeks prior.

She was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on the 4th of July in 1949 to Francis J. and Marjorie J. Byron (Pinney) and moved as a 3rd grader to the wonderful town of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved daughter Amanda, as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Carl; her loving daughter Sara; her adored granddaughters, Lilian, Ruby, and Stella Jones; her amazing son-in-law Chris Nagy; sister Frances Fortier; numerous wonderful cousins; one remaining uncle, Johnnie Penland; and hundreds of dear friends spread around the country from our Air Force years.

Brenda graduated from East Longmeadow High School in 1967, attended Andover Institute of Business in Springfield, and received her Associate’s Degree in Computer Programming in 1969. She married Carl in July 1969, the same month he joined the USAF and began their 24-year adventure, until they settled in Salem, Virginia in July 1989. They lived in many places in the US, and she especially loved her time living in Bangkok Thailand, Yokota AB Japan, and Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Her hobbies included Yoga, walking, reading, and Bible Study groups, but her happiest moments were spent raising Sara and Amanda and loving and nurturing her beautiful granddaughters.

She was thankful for her numerous doctors and nurses, and especially grateful for the 18 years of care, support, and life-saving efforts by Dr. Mark Currie, Ruthanne Gilbert, and the fabulous infusion nurses at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Lewis Gale.

Carol was loved by many, and her smile and sweetheart were her trademarks throughout her life, despite her pain and suffering.

Her memorial service is planned for May 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Salem Presbyterian Church in Salem with a reception for fellowship and remembrance to follow at Gresham Hall at SPC.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Brenda’s honor to your favorite charity, or consider donating to the Rydell Family Memorial Scholarship fund, named in honor of Amanda Rydell. This scholarship is awarded each year to a deserving senior at Glenvar High School.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.