Elsie Katherine Nelson

Elsie Nelson died on October 18 at the Otterbein Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Neighborhood, Springboro, Ohio at the age of 93. Elsie Katherine Pedersen was born in Lista, Norway near the North Sea, to Martin and Hanna (Hansen) Pedersen. The youngest of four children, she grew up in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, NY where she attended Bay Ridge High School. During those years Elsie was a track star and developed a love of writing and drama. As a young woman, Elsie earned a pilot’s license with hopes of assisting in the World War II effort, and later worked at Eastern and Scandinavian Airlines in NY. In 1946, Elsie married Robert (Bob) Nelson, a childhood friend. Elsie and Bob moved to Middlesex, NJ in 1959, where they raised their four children. Elsie’s love of writing and drama took many forms, including writer and director of several award-winning plays. She also wrote the weekly column “Day by Day” published in the Middlesex Chronicle for many years. Elsie worked at the Middlesex Public Library where she coordinated a wide variety of public events and children’s programs until she retired after 20 years.

Elsie was an active member of the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church for over 40 years where she served as a Deacon, and directed several drama productions, including, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” After retiring, she volunteered as a patient representative at Somerset Hospital, and with Hospice.

Elsie and Bob celebrated 54 years of marriage. They moved to Warren, NJ just before Bob’s death in 2000, and after suffering a stroke in 2006, Elsie moved to Ohio to be near her daughter Lisa. In addition to Lisa (husband Todd), she leaves her sons Chris (wife Lee), Jeff (wife Leslie), and Eric (wife Evas), plus 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She has numerous dear nephews and nieces. Elsie was preceded in death by her brothers Hans Walter and Palmer, and sister Margaret.

Elsie loved to travel, but perhaps her greatest joy was to be with family at Christmastime. She maintained an innocent exuberance throughout her life for Christmas, Halloween, and snowstorms. She was also a lover of words, literature, music, and the sea. Elsie wrote down the details of all matters and moments, great and small. She will be remembered for her angelic voice, especially in church, and as a wonderful friend, mother, grandmother, organizer, director, and traveling companion.

Elsie’s family wishes to thank those involved in her care over the past 10 years, especially Charlotte Sims and the wonderful and capable staff at Otterbein.

Donations can be made in Elsie’s honor to the Middlesex Public Library, Middlesex, New Jersey; the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church, Bound Brook New Jersey; or Otterbein . A memorial service is planned for December 28, 2016 at the Bound Brook Presbyterian Church, Bound Brook, NJ, 11:00 am. For online condolences, please visit www.tobiasfuneralhome.com .