Barbara Nelson

Barbara Nina Nelson, 81, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at home in Westminster, Colorado. Barbara was born on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1939, in Carbondale, Pennsylvania to DeWitt and Gladys (Bailey) Romich. 

Barbara loved reading, gardening, spending time with her family, grabbing a peppermint mocha latte with her daughter Jill at every chance, and, of course, fussing over her shiba inu, Yuki. She spent years working for the Norwich Shoe Company, the Guernsey Memorial Library and the YMCA in Norwich, NY where she made lifelong friends. She moved to Colorado in 1997 and worked for the City of Westminster at the City Park Rec Center and College Hill Library, where she gained yet a new set of friends. She volunteered for many years at the Westminster Butterfly Pavilion where she particularly enjoyed handling Rosie the tarantula and walking Sunshine the tortoise. She was a good listener, a sweet person, and always had a wonderful sense of humor.

Barbara is survived by her children, Jill (Ted) Nelson of Westminster, CO, Jack (Suzy) Nelson of King Ferry, NY, Jeff Nelson of Oxford, NY, Jolinda (Rick) Nelson Westerberg of Lubbock, TX, and Jay Nelson of Oxford, NY; her grandchildren (in order of appearance), Missy (Mike) Chrystie, Jessy (Mark) Fish, Paul (Brooke) Nelson, Tyler (Nikki) Nelson, Jake (Lauren) Westerberg, Jenna Nelson, Erin Nelson, Greg Nelson, Trevor Nelson, Jackie Nelson, Jeremy Nelson, Griffin Nelson, Allie Nelson and Joe Nelson; and her great grandchildren, Cooper, Carter, Maggie, Johnsy, Malaya, and Aurelia. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers DeWitt Jr., Bill and Sonny Romich; her daughter-in-law, Susan Nelson; her grandson, Josh Nelson; and her beloved dog and companion of 10 years, Yuki.

Barbara was diagnosed with an uncommon neurodegenerative disease, Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA). Upon her wishes, we have donated her brain to the University of Colorado School of Medicine to help the research community better understand PCA and bring them one step closer to one day finding a treatment.

Barbara liked to “keep it simple;” she asked there be no service. In lieu of flowers, If you should want to make a memorial contribution in her name, you can do so at this link: www.coloradopcasupport.org

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