Remembering Carol A. Stent: A Life Filled with Love and Courage

Carol A. Stent passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 22, 2025, at her home in Overton, Nevada, alongside her devoted husband, David Y. Nakahara. Born on July 14, 1939, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of John and Jenny Prespolis. Carol’s life was marked by her adventurous spirit, deep connections, and unwavering love for family and friends.

Formative Years and Career

Carol graduated in the Class of 1957 from Saint Mary’s of the Annunciation, where she formed lifelong friendships with her classmates and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. As the eldest of seven siblings, including three brothers and three sisters, she embraced her role as a leader within her family.

The call for adventure led Carol and four of her classmates to San Francisco, California, where they carved out successful careers and found love. Her striking beauty and zest for life caught the attention of Raymond Michael Stent, a medical intern from England, during his time at Los Angeles County U.S.C. Hospital. Their marriage took place at the picturesque Wayfarers Chapel, marking the beginning of a significant chapter in her life.

A Life of Love and Resilience

After Carol and Raymond divorced in the 1980s, she found love again with David Nakahara, an attorney based in Torrance, California. The couple wed in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 20, 1989, and together they embraced life with passion and joy, raising a total of seventeen pets, affectionately referred to as their “fur babies.”

Throughout her life, Carol demonstrated remarkable resilience. Even after suffering a stroke that left her partially paralyzed, she remained deeply committed to supporting her husband in caring for his elderly parents. Her ability to inspire others with her wit, grit, and compassion left a lasting impact on those around her.

Carol A. Stent is survived by her beloved husband, David, and her sisters, Paula Couture of Dracut, Massachusetts and Naples, Florida; Janet Buchino of Randolph, Massachusetts and Naples, Florida; and Helen Botehlo of Conway, South Carolina. Her legacy of love and strength endures as family and friends remember her with deep affection.

In her memory, the phrase “Soli Deo Gloria” resonates, meaning “Only To God the Glory,” reflecting Carol’s unwavering faith and the light she brought into the lives of so many.