Ann Neilsen is my mother.  I'm the third out of four daughters.  I was the easiest of her children to raise.  I can hear laugh from heaven.  She used to say: "You smiled all the time for the first 18 months of you life.  Later, I found out why.  You were thinking of all the wretched things you were going to do later." Ha!  She was right.  Well, compared to those little girl scout, goodie-goodie sibs of mine anyway!
I am so amazed at how you made us all feel like we were all so different and each so special, each with our unique talents.  You created such a strong sense of family, devoted to each other and our nieces and nephews.  Dad and you showed us what a marriage should be.  I love how you would not tolerate two things in us; dishonesty to others OR 
to ourselves and unkind behavior toward ANYone.   I've never achieved the noble, high quality that was you  through to your very core.  I'll keep working on it Mom, but let intent count heavily in the measure of success please because I make no promise of making it to your level!
I miss you so desperately, I feel like I lost my compass.  I've already thought about what you would say, advise many times.  It helps.
I was so lucky to have you for my mother!  Remember when I first started working Psych?  After a couple months I had already heard a lifetime's worth of the most horrific childhood abuse from my patients, I called and thanked you for my childhood.  You laughed and said "Well, thank you for thanking me!".
I love you Mom, not just because you were so wonderful to us but also because of your incredible intelligence, your dignified behavior, your wisdom, your artistic talents, your very unique personality, your way of thinking (so ahead of the times). You, with your hilarious, dry humor, your Yankee spirit.  I respect that you had every right to feel and act superior to others and you never did.  You were and will always be to anyone who knew you a remarkable woman.  Stay near Mom.  I, for one, still need you.

Keep looking at pictures of thanksgiving last year, your birthday, and trying to recreate in my mind as if you were with us this year. I know you are, and so many little things remind me of that every day. If only we could butter your nose! Love and miss you every day Mimi! 

November 26, 2021
Mom, I cannot remember a Thanksgiving that I did not spend with you. Since your birthday, November 26th, is the same week as Thanksgiving, sometimes it was on Thanksgiving and sometimes not, but I will always think of Thanksgiving as part of your birthday. 
Thanksgiving was yesterday, our first holiday without you. It seemed a little hollow but being surrounded by at least part of our big family was comforting. On your birthday today your four daughters discussed how to replicate the huge Thanksgiving feast you and Dad used to make, how our turkeys and pies turned out, just how you made that delicious gravy, and how much we miss you. 


OBITUARY

Ann D. Neilsen

November 26, 1928 – September 10, 2021

Swan Funeral Home

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