Elaine Marie Nelson, 92, of Hudson, NH passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday July 13, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mary (Doherty) Horman. She was the wife of the late William P. Nelson, who died in January 1995.
Elaine was born on August 16th, 1930 in Lowell, MA and was raised in Dracut, MA. She was educated in the local Dracut schools, and then graduated from St Patrick's High School in Lowell (class of 1948). Elaine worked for many years at Avco Wilmington Publication and Wang Laboratories, finishing her career at Middlesex Community College.
She lived a remarkable life, beginning in her early years. Her mother contracted tuberculosis during the great depression, which forced her father to place her and her brothers Anthony and Harry in St Peter’s orphanage while her mother recuperated. She was compassionately cared for by the Sisters of Charity at St. Peter's. After her mother was well enough to go home, Elaine, Anthony, and Harry were reunited with their parents and lived many happy years in the Collinsville Section of Dracut. These early hardships gave Elaine a wonderful sense of love for her family, and she never took anything for granted.
Elaine, along her brothers and father, played the piano in the Angie Bergamaini Band as well as other bands of that time. She met her future husband at the Lakeview ballroom in Tyngsboro, MA. In 1952 they were married and raised four children in the Christian Hill section of Lowell. Many great years were spent there near Gage Park, enjoying all the activities around caring for a horse (Star) in Dracut. Elaine was a warm and loving mother and grandmother, always welcoming family and friends to her home. Her amazing 'Nana sandwich' was legendary. She established lasting traditions for her family, hosting traditional New England-style Thanksgiving dinners, and planning annual trips to the beach.
After her husband's passing, Elaine began wintering in Kissimmee, Florida with her beloved dog Lucy. She welcomed visits from her sons, daughters, grandchildren and close friends, making lasting memories for our family.
Elaine cherished her family and will be sincerely missed by her sons, John Nelson of Hudson, NH and William P. Nelson of Jamaica Plain, MA, her daughter Patricia Doxtader Nelson of Herkimer, NY; her grandchildren, Erika Doxtader and her husband, Sanjay Mukhopadhyay of Pepper Pike, OH, Erin Cotton and her late husband, Matthew A. Cotton of Herkimer, NY, and Hannah Corin of New York, NY; and her great grandchildren, Matthew Cotton, Tristan Cotton, Ava Mukhopadhyay, and Mila Mukhopadhyay.
Elaine was the mother of the late Mary Colleen Nelson who died in 2009. She was also predeceased by her brothers Anthony Horman and Harry W. Horman.
On Friday, July 21, 2023, all are invited to her calling hours from 9 a.m.-12 noon, at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 978-458-6816. Her funeral service will take place in the funeral home at 12 noon, followed by procession to St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell.