Elizabeth A Nelson

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our family’s matriarch Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Nelson on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

Born in Port Huron, MI on September 5, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Margaret and Albert J. Sibilla, Sr. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother (Gram), great-grandmother (Great Gram), aunt, and friend to everyone she met.

Betty was a woman of great faith and gratitude who always trusted in God’s plan for her. In her later years, she devoted almost two hours daily to praying for everyone she loved. Her proudest accomplishment in life was the family she created with her husband, Kenneth W. Nelson, Sr., whom she married in 1951 and shared 46 years of marriage with before his passing in 1997.

In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by her sons, James and John. She is survived by 7 of her 9 children, Kathleen Wilson, Susan Newell (Michael), Kenneth W. Nelson, Jr., Michael Nelson (Debra), Mary Santo, Joseph Nelson, and Margaret Will (James). She was blessed with the love and admiration of 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and she was looking forward to the birth of two more in 2025. Betty is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

In Betty’s own words, written in a letter to her kids, “I have lived and loved to the fullest. My only wish is that you could all experience the ‘highs’ I have received from living in God’s wonderful world. Please enjoy every minute for me. Don’t waste a minute.”

During her lifetime she enjoyed sailing, skiing, swimming, golfing, bowling, traveling, reading, working jigsaw puzzles, calling and mailing cards to family and friends, and sharing her well-detailed stories. Most importantly she cherished spending time with her large and growing family. Betty truly lived and loved, never wasting a minute!

The family would like to thank Nicki, Cassandra, and Dr. Kenneth Trzepkowski for the compassionate care they provided to Betty during the last year of her life.

A visitation for family and friends was held from 9 am until 10 am on Monday, November 25, 2024, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at 10:30 am, following the visitation, at St. Joseph Parish, 319 East Main Street, Middletown, DE. Interment will be held privately in Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery, Port Huron, MI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s memory to AccentCare Hospice, 17855 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75287