Lasting Memories

Mary Margaret Nelson
Aug. 10, 1920-Jan. 2, 2016
Menlo Park, California
Submitted by Dency Nelson

Mary Margaret Nelson of Menlo Park, CA, died in the early morning hours of January 2, 2016, peacefully in her sleep, in her home of almost 68 years. She died just three blocks from where she was born, which at the time was the Gardener’s Shack of the James C. Flood Estate, where her father served as the Head Gardener.

She then lived all of her 95 years within a radius of 3 miles here in the MidPeninsula.

The daughter of Italian immigrants from the Piedmont region, Lorenzo & Teresa Aghem, Mrs. Nelson was a 1938 graduate of Sequoia High School in Redwood City, where she met and eventually married her husband of almost 54 years, Henry W. Nelson. (Mr. Nelson preceded Mrs. Nelson in death in March of 1994.)

She is survived by their two children, Pam Bonino of Menlo Park, CA, and Dency Nelson of Hermosa Beach, CA. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Annette Jackson of Kennewick, WA, Lisa Mitchell of Menlo Park, CA, and Charlie Keever of Hermosa Beach, CA, as well as two great- grandchildren, Cason and Riggins Mitchell of Menlo Park, CA, and by her half-brother, John Beltramo of Atherton, CA.

Mrs. Nelson was an accomplished cook and baker, providing her family and friends throughout the years with traditional Italian meals as well as traditional Danish deserts and cookies inspired by her Danish-born husband.

First and foremost she was a loving, generous, truly selfless matriarch, neighbor and friend to all who knew her, and remained vibrant and engaged with family and friends up until the last two months of her life. She will be missed by many; remembered fondly by all who knew her.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, CA, with burial immediately following at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1100 Santa Cruz, Menlo Park, CA.

From Mary & Michael Goucher
Jan. 9, 2016

This picture was taken in 2011 in front of Mrs. Nelson's home. Moira and I had spent the night as her guest. As we were heading out for breakfast at her favorite restaurant, I had asked her to pose for the picture. I wanted a memento of our first meeting. Sadly, it would be our last as well. As I've said to Dency and Moira, I only met Mrs. Nelson once but I feel as if I have always known her. She will be greatly missed .