Armande (Amy) Marie (Martel) Nelson, loving mother, sister, grandmother, registered nurse and friend died peacefully at the home of her daughter, Valerie A. Larabee, in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 6, 2016 at the age of 81.
Amy was born on May 20, 1934 in Somerset County, Maine to Marie Blanche (Gosselin) Martel and Valere Joseph Martel both originally from eastern Canada. She graduated from Monson High School and went on to become the first female letter carrier in the state of Maine and a Postmistress at the U.S. Post Office in Guilford, Maine. In her late 50's, after a break to care for her loving mother at home, Amy went on to proudly earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Thomas College. As a Registered Nurse, she specialized in geriatric nursing and retired from The Woodland's Senior Living and Care Center in Waterville, Maine.
Armande \"Amy\" Nelson was a gifted and selfless woman who in many ways was a true trailblazer. Having been born in rural Maine during the Great Depression, the oldest of three children, Amy admired the natural gifts of her father and like him, found her greatest peace and pleasure while immersed in nature. She loved the outdoors and, like her father, became an avid hunter and fisherman. She was considered by many to be one of the best markswomen of her time. In her later years, Amy chose only to admire and befriend wildlife. She spent her days feeding her own pets, many rescued and adopted from the wild, and an abundance of birds and four-legged friends who would visit her beautiful property in Waterville, Maine. From her mother, Amy learned to appreciate what it took to make ends meet during the Great Depression and never take her own independence for granted. Amy took her mother's frugality, sense of self, and a joy of cooking into her own adult life raising two successful children and becoming an intelligent businesswoman while always caring for others before herself. The love, knowledge and strength she imparted to her children will transcend their lives and the lives of their families and communities.
Amy is survived by her loving daughter, Valerie A. Larabee and her wife L'aura (of Salt Lake City, Utah) and devoted son, Robert W. Larabee and his wife Rachel (of Holden, Maine); one sister, Pierette Martel (of Waterville, Maine); a very special niece Michelle Martel, beloved grandchildren (Steven, Logan, Alexis and Michalie) and one great grandson Noah. She is preceded in death by her ex-husband and best friend, Robert Jerome Larabee (Greenville and Brewer, Maine), her husband and champion, Charles Lee Nelson (Greenville and Guilford, Maine), her parents, Marie Blanche (Gosselin) Martel and Valere Joseph Martel; and her brother, Donald J. Martel. She is also survived by her beautiful dog, Hailey Jo, and long-time feline companion "Mummy."
A graveside memorial service is scheduled for Saturday May 14th at 2:00 PM at Greenville Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Amy's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Jane Goodall Institute, 1595 Spring Hill Rd, Suite 550, Vienna, VA 22182 [www.janegoodall.org] or The Hospice for Utah Foundation, 11639 S 700 E, Suite 100, Draper, Utah 84020 [www.hospice4utah.com].
Condolences can be posted on a Facebook Page dedicated to Amy (https://www.facebook.com/armande.nelson). The family would like to thank caregivers and nurses from Hospice for Utah for their love and tremendous support during Amy's life at her daughter's in Salt Lake City.
