1932 – 2013

AUBURN — Dorothy June Nelsen, 81, formerly from Scarborough, died Monday, Aug. 5, at Clover Nursing Home in Auburn with her family at her side.

She was born on Jan. 18, 1932, a daughter of the late Myrtle M. Hayman Woodman Libby and Maurice L. Woodman. She was a loving wife of Theodore R. Nelsen Sr. of 61 years. 

Dorothy grew up in Portland and attended Portland schools. She worked in Portland hospitals as a kitchen and nursing aid, and in a Portland fish factory. She also did waitress and clerk work in various locations and retired from her 20-year position as work leader at Fairchild National Semiconductor in South Portland.

Dorothy was a member of the Eagles Club in Portland and the American Legion in Westbrook. She enjoyed socializing and dancing, playing bingo, cards, crafts, knitting and crocheting. She was a social butterfly at Clover Manor and mother to all her caregivers and other patients there whom she took upon herself to care for. She was loved by so many there.

She especially loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Theodore Nelsen Sr.; her three children, Linda Kenney and husband, Mark, of Lewiston, Donna Bragdon and husband, Peter, of Mechanic Falls, and Theodore Nelsen Jr. of Auburn; seven grandchildren, Raymond Reece and Melanie Julian of Auburn, Lisa Kenney of Gorham, James Turgeon of Auburn, Christopher Bragdon and wife, Sarah, of Tampa, Fla., Alison Hatch and husband, Jeremy, of Farmington, and Nick Bragdon of Mechanic Falls; great-grandchildren, Zachary, Julia, Abigail, Benjamen, Nathan, Kayla, Aaron, Jaekup, Gweneth and Olivia; and brother, Donald Libby and wife, Diane, of Buxton.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Helen Gendreau and husband, Fred, Francis Collins and husband, Donald, and Marjorie Valeriani.

Dorothy’s family would like to thank the staff at Clover Manor for their kind, generous, compassionate care of Dorothy during her stay there. Special thanks to Beth and the staff close to her there over the past six years.

Please visit www.advantageportland.com to sign Dorothy’s guest book and to send condolences to the family.

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