Beryl Lucile Nelson Abbott

Parents: Doris Donna Wyatt Nelson/ Frank Leonard Nelson

Born November 29, 1929

Died December 30, 2020

Married May 23, 1951 to Walter Abbott (2012)

Children: Brent Abbott/ Kelly,( Melissa, Crista, Stephanie, Chance/Leah),

Janice / Duane Fairhurst (Angela Baird, Christoper/Breanda), Cam Abbott/ Candace (Caitlyn, Samantha), Carol/Jim Scott(Tyler Abbott, Morgan and Bryce Scott), Joan/ Bill Brett( Mitchell/Christie,Rachel)

Great Grandchildren: (Wyatt, Victoria) Baird, Kylee Lieschner, Teagyn Abbott, (Pippa, Mason, Ruby) Fairhurst, (Sadie, Blakely, Walker)Brett

Nelson Family: Marina Becker, Donna /Bill Richards, Sisters in Law: Pearl Nelson, Pat Nelson Predeceased by: Lois Eaton, Glen Nelson, Jim Nelson, Bill Eaton and Gordon Becker

Abbott Family: Lloyd Abbott/Penny, Eunice/John Pistawka, Doug Montgomery, Gail/Vern Machan Predeceased by: Alberta Montgomery, Delores Maclean

Interests: Golf, Bridge, Watercolor painting, Sewing clothing for Dolls, Knitting, Quilting, Reading, Travelling

Clubs: United Church Women, Hi-C, Fountain Friends, Meals on Wheels, Hospital Auxiliary, Festival of Trees

Mom started golfing years ago. She claims that otherwise she would have been a golf widow since dad lived each summer to golf. Holidays involved trips with the Saturday Morning League to places throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Canada. Their friend group revolved around the Red

Deer Golf and Country Club. Mom and Dad spent many winters at their home in Hemet California, Golfing, Garage Sales and looking for the next Silver or Crystal gem.

Mom was a means of transportation to numerous activities from Church, Hockey, Swimming, Jobes Daugthers, Football and many other activities. She also thoroughly enjoyed spending time at our cabin on Sylvan Lake. Many days were spent year round enjoying friends and family at the lake.

Mom volunteered on numerous committees over the years. The volunteering was most often involving the United Church fundraising which meant making the most lovely cakes and baking that we were not allowed to touch, let alone eat. She organized and pulled off several years of High Teas. Mom wanted to make sure that if the Queen were to show up that the Queen would stay and have a cup of tea. The fundraising also included spending hours making the most delicious chicken and beef pot pies to be sold within the congregation. The Hospital was another pet project that involved fund raising with the Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, the Hospital Gift Shop and the Festival of Trees where she worked hours helping organize the morning breakfast and over the years donated numerous dolls for the silent auction.

The Hi-C teenager group at the United Church was going to fold without an adult mentor, so mom stepped in. Two teenagers in the family did not quite prepare mom for the shenanigans of the Hi-C group. She found out how calm her own teenagers were after several picnics and hikes… but that’s a whole different story. Mom handled the situation with the greatest of finesse.

Mom was always pouring herself into the next interesting project. She started to paint after our father was diagnosed with Cancer. Several of her golfing friends thought it would be a good idea to start a watercolour painting group in 1994 and named it Fountain Friends. Painting allowed mom an opportunity to stay at home while dad convalesced and also manage to be creative at the same time. By 2000 there were 12 painters who showed their paintings in our Art Shows. Mom enjoyed the creativity of painting and was thrilled when her paintings actually sold at the annual art show. In the last several years mom painted with the Golden Circle Group since so many of the Fountain Friends came to the age where they didn’t want to continue to paint or had passed away. Our homes and the homes of many extended family and friends are graced with our mothers’ beautiful paintings.

Sewing became yet another of moms passions. She made dozens of dolls all decked out with clothing she had sewn for every one of the children and grandchildren. Every grandchild also received a quilt that had blocks that were embroidered by a several different family members, then sewn together by mom and meticulously hand quilted by her.

In more recent years mom’s pastime was knitting, since her eyesight began to fade and she could make afghans without looking at a pattern. Knitting was a craft that mom did throughout her life but was consumed with over the last couple of years. Each family member had an afghan knit for them as well as hats, gloves, scarfs, neck tubes, etc.

Mom was also a voracious reader. The decline of her eyesight was most missed with her not being able to read the latest best seller. She had to rely on what was available in the Big Print books which always seemed to be not as well written as she would like but still had to finish reading them because that was her nature. You never know – it might get better by the end. Big Print crossword puzzles were her means to keep her mind sharp.

Mom will be greatly missed by numerous family, friends and acquaintances. She was a kind, loving, thoughtful, dignified, lovely lady who always put a positive spin to an ugly situation, as long as she had her lipstick on. No matter how busy mom was she always had an ear available when you needed to talk. Please remember our mother with a thought that makes you smile. She would really like that.

The family asks that in lieu of Flowers donations be sent to the Cancer Society or a Hospice in your area, in honour of our mother.

• Date : 2020-12-30
• Location : Red Deer, AB