Peacefully passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022 at the Linhaven Home for the Aged, at the age of 93 years. Beloved wife of the late William James Nelson (1979). Loving Mom of Ann (the late Greg) Hnatiuk and Jim (Cheryl) Nelson. Cherished Nana of four grandchildren: Matt (Tammy), Todd (Jody), Adam (Amanda), and Rachel (Chris). Proud Nanny of six great-grandchildren: Emelia, Sloane, Ryker, Dylan, Danielle, and Levi. Survived by four of her siblings: Margaret, Joan, Kori, and Clifford. She will be remembered by many nieces and nephews.
In keeping with Iva’s wishes, cremation has taken place and was entrusted to Hulse & English Funeral Home & Chapel. A burial of her ashes will be held on Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. If desired, memorial donations made to a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Please share a story or memory of Iva below for the family.
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Committal Service for Iva Nelson lead by the Reverend Marci Wakem
September 25, 2023
I am thankful to be here this morning, with you, the family of Iva Nelson, to celebrate the life of a special woman as you say goodbye and as we commit her body to its final resting place. Together we take this time to honor the memory of Iva Nelson who played an important part in all your lives. It was my privilege to sit down with Jim and Ann recently in preparation for this important occasion. As we spoke, I heard some great memories of Iva – some poignant and down to earth and others just downright hilarious.
Iva was a woman who appreciated the little things. Tim Horton’s was a must – and always a hashbrown!
She never missed an occasion even while out for an apt or brief errand to “just stop and get a little something to eat.” Iva enjoyed eating out. Nachos and Chinese were perhaps top of the list. She may not have eaten a lot but that did nothing to lessen her enjoyment. Iva loved babies and children. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren most of all. When you were present, she had eyes just for you. Iva loved to feed her family. She always took the time to prepare something special…even if just a sandwich, you wouldn’t come and go hungry. Iva had an adventurous side. From sneaky late night outings to Walmart to donning a helmet and hitting the road on a motorcycle, or hoping on a plane in her 80’s, Iva had fun and enjoyed life. Iva didn’t like wrinkles in clothes -- but something she really didn’t like was Covid and 16 days without seeing family! I can’t blame her one bit, that crazy time hardly made sense to any of us! It is hard to imagine living at 93 during such a time, but she did, and she made the best of it. I know many of us who work at Linhaven loved Iva. She had a wonderful personality and connected with people easily. I think she and I must have also connected because of our East coast roots and screeching in.
Thinking about the reflections of Iva’s life, it was clear her life wasn’t without some major challenges. Iva came from a large family and with that experienced hardship. Iva lost her husband relatively early in life and I imagine that must have been very hard. But through these experiences Iva learned how to rise to the occasion – to meet her challenges head on. There is a quote that says, “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Iva never failed to turn up. Here today we see the legacy of a life well lived – hard work and many fun and cherished memories. There are so many more things that could be said of Iva and so now you, her beloved family, must live out the example of her life – her wit, her fierce independence, her resilience, and by doing so you continue the legacy of her life.
I love these words spoken by Cardinal Mermillod: “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each family is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities and certainly different children. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply. Today we honor such a mother. May your many memories of Iva, be for you, instruments of healing grace.
Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (1 Tim. 6:7; Job 1:21).
On difficult days when all you want to do is shut out the world do you ever feel assaulted by the illusion that we are all separate from one another? The truth is we share so many of the same experiences, challenges, and heartbreaks in life. I found this quote that says, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world” (John Muir). I realize more and more just how connected we are to one another. Today in the spirit of unity we come together as the words of 1 John chapter 1 verse 7 express, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other….”
There are sure things in this life yet very few…I am not sure why it is that some live longer, shorter, healthy, or stricken lives on this earth. Look around and see we are outnumbered by the graves. It is sure and certain…one day we too will pass on. Days like today cause us to re-evaluate a lot of things in life. What is important and what is not. We are confronted today with the fact that we do not live on this earth forever. Even so we can have assurance and confidence in facing the grave.
The book of John chapter 14 exhorts: Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. In 1 Peter 1 we read: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. Galatians 6 also encourages us stating, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Iva’s life is changed, not ended. FOR, the grave is just a temporary resting place. Life brings so much uncertainty, many questions, and doubts, but today in this valley of sorrow I know one thing for certain. Iva would never want you to lose hope. So today, as you reminisce and celebrate Iva’s life may you be reminded that we grieve because we love. I am thankful that you all experienced such care and love through Iva. I trust God now to hold her tenderly and I encourage you to find yourselves in the words of Psalm 91. "Those who live in the shelter of the Most-High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty... He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him.”
Please join me now as we pray. We place our hope in Jesus Christ today… the one who is closer than a brother in times like these. Lord, we come today in our grief. We come to ask You to take our burdens from us and give us in its place the burden Christ spoke of. We come in the hope that the shadow of death might be turned into the light of a new day. We stand before the mystery of life and death, help us to do it with honesty. We celebrate the gift of life, help us to be grateful. We wait to hear from You, help us to receive Your presence, through Jesus Christ and know the love that you have for us even in these difficult times. We thank you for the promise that the family and friends of Iva remain loved and cared for by You. You see us today and you know us better than we know ourselves. Gracious God – we thank you for your steadfast and life-giving love. Lift us up and hold us, we pray, into the joy and peace of Your presence – we ask it in the name of Christ our Lord – Amen.
And so now, with both grief and gratitude, we honor Iva and say goodbye. We stand on this sacred ground, amid the beauty of nature, and we dedicate this space to every beautiful and cherished memory of Iva. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, we commend to Almighty God, Iva Florence Nelson, we therefore commit her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Join with me in praying the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth, as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory
Forever and ever Amen
May the Lord Bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Let us look to and care for one another – forgive anything that needs forgiving – share all the needs sharing- and may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with every good that you may do his will and bring praise and honor and glory to His name – both now and evermore. Amen.
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