Funeral Arrangements Announced for Nancy Van Zile Stewart Litwak
NANCY LITWAK, 39, a cherished native of Montgomery, Alabama, and a beloved resident of Belmont, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Her passing followed a life defined by remarkable professional achievement, intellectual brilliance, and deep devotion to her family and community.
Nancy Van Zile Stewart Litwak was an accomplished attorney and a founding partner of Rosenwood, Rose & Litwak, where she focused her practice on commercial, construction, and business-related civil litigation. Her work earned widespread respect within the legal profession, and she was named among North Carolina’s “Super Lawyers” every year since 2017. While she appreciated these honors, those closest to her knew that her professional success was only one part of a life lived with purpose and generosity.
A gifted and multifaceted individual, Nancy was fluent in French, athletic, and deeply engaged in the arts. She appeared in numerous theatrical productions over the years and maintained a lifelong love of learning. Her academic achievements reflected her dedication and intellect, graduating magna cum laude from Montgomery Academy in 2005, magna cum laude from Georgetown University in 2009, and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 2012, where she received the Chancellor’s Scholars Award.
Above all, Nancy was a devoted wife and mother. She shared a loving marriage of ten years with her husband, Brian James Litwak, and was a proud and attentive mother to their children, Samuel Stewart Litwak and Ann Rosalind Litwak. Despite the demands of her career, she always placed her family first, remaining closely connected to those she loved.
Nancy was also known as a community leader, an enthusiastic reader, and a gracious host. She especially loved Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass and Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides, rereading each annually. Music held a special place in her life, and she found comfort and inspiration in it, particularly as a devoted fan of Joni Mitchell. Friends and family remember her for her warmth, generosity, and ability to bring people together, often through beautifully prepared meals and thoughtfully hosted gatherings.
She is survived by her husband, Brian; her children, Samuel and Ann Rosalind; her parents, Charles Andrew “Chuck” Stewart III and Ann Shashy Stewart of Montgomery; her sister, Katherine Stewart Curtin, and her husband, Kyle, of San Francisco, California; and a wide circle of uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Charles Andrew Stewart IV.
A memorial service will be conducted by the Rev. Lauren Byrd on Tuesday, January 13, at 11 a.m. at McLean’s Funeral Home, located at 700 S. New Hope Road in Gastonia. A private burial will follow.
