Dora B. Nelson

September 10, 1923 - January 31, 2021

We will Celebrate a long life well lived of Dora (Dodo) Briggs Nelson - mother to Scott, Bonnie, Tracy and Kim, our mother died Sunday, January 31st 2021 at Home in Hadley NY - she was 97 years old. This is not so much a loss as a blessing of life and all of those she touched. So no "sorry for your loss" thoughts here please! This is a Celebration! Mom was the youngest of the 6 children of John Rupert Briggs and Etta Briggs - Channing, Bette, Dick, John ( Blondie ) Margaret , predeceased her, as well as her daughter Bonnie , Son- Scott- and our Father, her husband of more than 75 years Robert E. Nelson. She is survived by –daughter in law Carol H Nelson, grandson Travis Nelson with Aileen Crooks, grandson Wesley his wife Bridgett Nelson and great granddaughters Shelby, Krista, Loki ,Audrey, Willow ,Gabrielle and Trinity son Tracy and his wife Patty Nelson, son Kim Nelson granddaughter Cori- (Corena Nelson) with Greg Gerard great grandson’s William and Jessie and granddaughter Aubrey Nelson with Ryan McCaffrey. Mom being one of 6 children there are too many nieces and nephews and their children for me to list! Mom loved them ALL! 16 if I counted right on Briggs side, 6 on Nelson side plus their spouses, children: She knew them all and there DOB, wedding, graduation, etc.! If mom were here she could give me the list, spelling, (dear God thank you!) where they lived; a story on each one. She was the keeper of family history. This now falls to Dean Briggs, Larry Briggs, Ryk & Cathy Nelson and my inadequate self, Kim Nelson. Dora came into this world 9/10/1923 was raised in Ashburnham MA. By two of the most wonderful, special people I will ever know - John Briggs and Etta Briggs - with 5 siblings, all special people like their parents. They were all legendary as were their spouses. One of 6 children growing up through the great depression times were lean but love was abundant. Her father that she adored nick named her dynamite. Mom told me of sitting down the road at blacksmith shop of Joe Bean as a young child, Joe and others spitting tobacco juice in a spittoon and Joe made sure no one missed and hit mom! That black smith shop became scout house where her father was scoutmaster for 50 years or more. He built a town pool damming up a stream behind it. Mom’s life, as well as her brothers sisters and all the children in town revolved around it for years to come learning to swim, become life guards, eagle scouts – NRA safety and shooting … she did all she could and excelled at all she did. There was no High School in Ashburnham at that time, the children in town were blessed to go to Cushing Academy where she met our father Robert E Nelson. While going to Cushing she baby sat for the dean’s daughter Paula Heslin , who couldn’t pronounce Dora but called her Dodo - and that became a lifelong nickname she went by for the rest of her life. Through WWII all her brothers served as they saw fit, with distinction - our father as a navy doctor mom worked as a social worker. Dad proposed while they were fishing on Naukeag Lake but as he did so mom got a strike and the battle ensued culminating with the landing a huge Pike! She did not give dad his answer until after dinner at home on Gingerbread lane by pond. They were married in Ashburnham October 7th 1944. Scott & Bonnie were born there – Bonnie died about 2 years of age, one of the hardest things she and dad ever went through, but they did it together as they did everything. They moved into their first home in Natick Ma were Tracy and I were born. She became an accomplished candlepin bowler at Fairway Bowling alley and made many lifelong friends. Then to Queensbury NY in 1968 were Scott came back to home he’d never been to after Vietnam. They then went back to childhood home in Ashburnham cared for her father, then her mother and built onto their home on Gingerbread Lane. After her mother’s death they moved back to Glens Falls area near were Scott & Carol lived in Hadley NY to be near the grandchildren. where she remained rest of her days. Mom loved a good card game; bridge club in Natick- pitch in Ashburnham. So many games of pitch we all played with relatives and family friends. Mom inherited a love of birds from her father – both she and dad loved feeding and watching them – a passion they shared throughout their lifetime. We camped often in lots of places had many adventures. She would read books while we drove. Sometimes we sat in driveway until last page was read while those we had gone to visit looked out window and wondered why we were just sitting in the driveway. Her favorite campground was Shawme-Crowell in Sandwich Ma. On Cape Cod. Her favorite beach was Old Silver Beach. A lifelong home keeper her home was always neat as a pin. She helped dad with wholesale of women’s clothes in later years. She loved to cook and try new recopies from her mother, mother in law and others. She chronicled them all and filed them away. Her handwriting in cursive was much like her mother’s - a lost art today. She did needle point were her detailed skills excelled, until her hands; eyes could no longer accomplish the task. When it came to food she loved most, lobster was it! She so loved to talk with family friends visiting in person where she reveled in being hostess or being on the phone or writing letters and going over all stories of the past and the” going’s on” of the day. In later years a phone call made her day. Although she led a wonderful full life she will be missed. In her mother’s words- “bid me not good night, but somewhere somehow good morning.” Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. On line condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sbfuneralhome.com.