Adrian Menapace Quattlebaum

Obituary

Adrian Menapace Quattlebaum, 64, of Asheville, NC, left this world on December 12th, 2025, following a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. With unwavering love and support from her husband David, Adrian navigated surgery and chemotherapy and sought second opinions, second line treatments and clinical trials when the chemo failed. She died peacefully with David by her side.

Adrian was born on June 14th, 1961 in Durham, North Carolina. Her parents were John Charles Menapace and Marion Elizabeth Else. She spent her early childhood surrounded by Duke University students, craftspeople, bluegrass and folk musicians, and a wide variety of family friends who often visited the old farmhouse on Randolph Road. She attended Middle and Upper school at Carolina Friends School in Durham, where she made lifelong friends, acted in many plays, and was greatly influenced by the school’s Quaker values.

A lifelong learner, Adrian’s studies included an English degree from Wesleyan University, a Master’s in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill, a second Bachelor’s in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master's in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia Southern University, and a Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification from UNC. She was a stellar adult Spanish student, and in recent years studied furniture building and mandolin and learned how to play mahjong. Her fortunate guests could attest that she was a great chef. Hiking, bicycling, kayaking and traveling provided uncounted joys shared with her family and friends.

Adrian embodied the Giving Spirit. Her unselfish kindness and compassion for others was demonstrated by her long career in health care in many settings ranging from Intensive Care to the inpatient Psychiatric Unit at the VA Hospital in Asheville. She was dedicated to helping others, both professionally and as a volunteer. She served her community by helping out at COVID clinics, teaching kids to read, aiding adults in learning English, and repackaging surplus food into free meals for those in need. She provided loving care to her mother Marion during her final years.

Adrian was an enthusiastic lover of nature. The top of her list would surely include the majestic southern Live Oaks of Georgia and Louisiana draped in Spanish moss, the rolling colorful Appalachians in the fall, the coastal marshlands and islands along the salt water rivers near Savannah, and the small blackwater Canoochee River near Statesboro, Georgia where she and David chanced to meet while kayaking 21 years ago.

In addition to her loving husband David Quattlebaum of Asheville, NC, Adrian leaves behind her older sister Julia Menapace of Sebastopol, CA; younger sister Gianna Menapace-Drew (John Drew) of Lyndonville, VT; niece Sophie Drew (Ben Miller); nephew Nate Drew; step daughter Kate Quattlebaum (Karl Stanislawski); step grandchildren Greyson and Marlowe; and many treasured friends.

Adrian will be dearly missed by all of us but her kindness, grace and beauty will live on in our hearts and minds. As one of David’s favorite bands Jethro Tull sings in the song Wondering Aloud ……. “And it’s only the giving that makes you what you are.”

Adrian expressly requested that there be no memorial service. If you would like to honor her in some way, her family suggests a donation to a charity of your choice, or to one of the following: Oxfam America, International Rescue Committee, Give Directly, MANNA FoodBank.

Please feel free to add remembrances of Adrian to the Memory wall, and photos to the Gallery. 

Gallery

Memory wall