Nelson Nicholas Drozdowich

Nelson Nicholas Drozdowich passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Mission, BC on December 26, 2025 at the age of 95. The day before (Dec 25th), he was able to celebrate a final Christmas with family and friends.

Nelson is survived by:

his spouse of 74 years Irene (Gilda) {nee Borland}, Mission BC;

his sister Mary Daykin, Victoria BC;

his children: Susan Lay (spouse Dan), Williams Lake BC; Diane Miller {formerly Barnes} (spouse DJ), Abbotsford BC; Dale Drozdowich (spouse Barbara), Abbotsford BC; and Tina Chuley (spouse Kevin), Enderby BC;

his grandchildren: Crystal Chipman {nee Lay}, Williams Lake BC; Melissa-Sue Harper {nee Read} (spouse Warren), Maple Ridge BC; Kyle Lay, Williams Lake BC; Danielle Barnes, Abbotsford BC; Nicolette Miller-McDougall {nee Barnes} (spouse Kayla), Chilliwack BC; and Lacey Drozdowich, Abbotsford BC;

his great grandchildren: Lucas Chipman, Williams Lake BC; Kane Lay, Williams Lake BC; and Lennox Miller-McDougall, Chilliwack BC.

Nelson was pre-deceased by:

his sister Beatrice Clary; his brother Gordon Drozdowich; his sister Anne Drozdowich; and his sister Irene Petruck;

his daughter Simone Read {nee Drozdowich};

and his grandson Jamie Lay.

Nelson was born on July 28, 1930, in Vegreville, Alberta to parents Nicholas and Lena. After the family moved to BC, Nelson went to school while helping to work the family farm in Cloverdale BC. While there, he met Gilda and they were married in June 1951. Ten years after their marriage, the couple moved to Abbotsford BC, where they began to build their family. In 1969, Nelson purchased a farm on Old Clayburn Road, where he and Gilda raised the family. While much of the farm was eventually sold to become a new Abbotsford neighbourhood, Nelson maintained a parcel of land at the back of the property where he built the home in which he and Gilda would live until 2025.

In terms of career, after a number of jobs working for the co-op, Nelson eventually found his calling as real estate agent and maintained a successful practice until retirement in the early 1990s.

In Abbotsford, Nelson (and Gilda) focused on community, including but not limited to involvement with Abbotsford Agrifair, local school boards, and hospitals as well as various committees and causes focused on general city well-being (Nelson was never afraid to call up the mayor or local MLA / MP to voice an opinion). The couple were also philanthropically focused and every year, you could count on them working the Salvation Army kettles at Christmas (with Nelson playing harmonica in support) or Nelson parachuting out of an aircraft to support Cyrus Centre Youth Programs, where he raised more than $100k over 14 years, with his last jump being in July 2025, at age 94.

For these community efforts, Nelson was recognized and awarded the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Medal on Oct 22, 2022, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal on June 20, 2025. In his reflections regarding the awards, he stated that work was a team effort and the awards were shared with Gilda.

A celebration of life will be held on February 7, 2026 at 11:00am at Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home in the Chapel, 34537 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC; a reception will follow in the Tea Room. Friends, family and acquaintances of the Drozdowich family are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to any of the following causes that were supported by Nelson (and Gilda):(see clickable links below obituary)

• Diabetes Canada

• Cyrus Centre Abbotsford

• the Salvation Army Abbotsford

The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff at Mission Memorial Hospital and at Chartwell Cedarbrook Retirement Residence.