Obituary: Janet Kathryn Nelson – Portland Press Herald

WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania – Janet Kathryn Nelson, 84, of Standish, Maine, died on April 9, 2021 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, at the home of daughter Nancy and son-in-law Glenn Crosen. During her valiant and graceful battle against a long illness, she was visited, comforted and entertained by her family, granddaughters Kelsey Osborne, Megan and Molly Crosen, son Jim, wife Tracey, grandchildren Mackenzie and Bennett Nelson, and great-granddaughter. Fiona Osborne and many family and close friends from her childhood home in Avon Lake, Ohio and her adopted home in Cumberland, Maine.

Janet was born on October 7, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents Irene and Wilbur Best. She attended Avon Lake High School, where she got close to her future husband, Gerald Arthur Nelson. After high school, she embarked on an educational path and attended Bowling Green State University before relocating to Avon Lake after the death of her father.

The Nelsons were married on November 19, 1957 in Avon Lake, Ohio. After giving birth to their daughter Nancy, Janet soon moved to Columbus, Ohio and joined Jerry while studying veterinary medicine at Ohio State University. With the birth of son Jim, Janet helped support her growing family by teaching a parish school and opening a daycare for babies and toddlers of college mothers until they returned to Avon Lake after Jerry graduated in 1965. During this time Janet suffered the loss of daughters Jill, Jim’s twin sister, and later Karen in infancy due to unusual birth complications. This was followed by a move to neighboring Avon, Ohio, where Janet and Jerry welcomed their adopted son, Frank Henry.

Janet loved to travel and crossed the country several times with Jerry. In 1973, after vacationing in Maine, the two moved there with their three children and left Ohio and their family for something else. From 1973 to 1993, she built a home on her 200-year-old farm in Cumberland Center, Maine, over 20 acres, and helped build a successful small animal practice together, working as a veterinary technician and surgical assistant, and as a billing and late night cleaning service. At the same time, she took care of her ancient farm, large garden and menagerie of small and large animals while providing delicious meals, homework tutorials and transportation for her children to school activities and part-time jobs.

She was an artist and had a knack for design, painting and decoration. It was very important to her that changes and renovations correspond to the age and history of the house. While much of the work was done by ourselves, the restoration took 20 years of joy and fear. She became an expert in wood repairs, old paintwork, powder coating techniques and classic stencils, which she used to decorate many rooms in the house.

In addition to having a Julia child-like talent for cooking, she loved to sing and was a member of the choir at Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth, Maine for over 30 years. She got involved in the church musicals where she met many of her closest friends and introduced her daughter to her future son-in-law because she thought they would be a good match to add the best matchmaker to her long list of achievements. She traveled with her choir through Europe, Italy and Ireland, where she looked forward to the birthplaces of her Irish grandparents.

When Jerry retired, they settled in a small neighborhood on Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine, where she soon made several close friends. After Jerry’s death in 2003, Janet’s wanderlust was adopted by her family, who took her on trips to England, France, Scotland, Spain, and Iceland. She crowned this adventure with an epic Baltic cruise for her 80th birthday, which circumnavigated the Scandinavian north.

Despite her illness, Janet led an active life. With the help of her nephew Carl Best and his wife Angela and their granddaughter Molly, she was able to stay in her home for as long as possible. As with everything in life, Janet calmly accepted her illness and urged herself to do as much as possible for as long as she could. She greeted each day with a smile and found something to laugh about every day. She was a force of nature. Good nature!

Janet had previously died of her parents, her brother James R. Best of Ohio, her son Frank, two babies, Jill and Karen, and her close sister-in-law Virginia Brausch of Ohio.

She leaves behind son James, Tracey, Mackenzie and Bennett Nelson from California. Daughter, Nancy and Glenn Crosen. Granddaughter Kelsey and husband Thomas and great-granddaughter Fiona Osborne from Pennsylvania. Granddaughter Megan Crosen and fiance Patrick Hallabeck from Connecticut. Granddaughter Molly Crosen and partner Brian Stanley from Maine. Sisters and sisters in law, Glenda and Fred Nelson and Lois and Dan Nelson from Ohio. Not to mention her many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Her life and Mass celebrations will begin next summer at Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth, Maine, on July 19, 2022 at 11 a.m. and in her hometown of Avon Lake, Ohio, on July 22, 2022 at 10 a.m. take place .. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Arrangements from DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 N. Church St. West Chester, PA 19380 610-696-1181; http://www.DellaFH.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Janet’s favorite shelter, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, ME;

P.O. Box 336

Westbrook, ME 04098

or to a local animal shelter or pantry near you.

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