May "Bobbie" Nielsen

November 24, 2018

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of May "Bobbie" Nielsen on November 24 in Farmington at the age of 101. She was born in Ellington, CT on January 24, 1917 in the family home, now known as the Nellie McKnight Museum. The daughter of Henrietta (Segur) Brace and Dr. Edward A. Brace, May grew up in Ellington and graduated as valedictorian of her class at Rockville High School. As the daughter of the town's doctor, she delivered library books to children quarantined by scarlet fever and rode along in her father's horse drawn sleigh to make winter house calls. May married William Nielsen on February 1, 1941, and "Bill and Bobbie," as they were known to their friends, settled in Farmington where they raised their family. They were married 61 years, until his death in 2002. May worked as an executive secretary in several area businesses but found the greatest contentment in the nurturing of her children and grandchildren. Her love of family history and writing led her to researching and writing the story of her ancestors, all the way back to Admiral Seymour of the Royal British Fleet. May taught her children to read literature with passion, to love a backyard garden, and to always remember the importance of a good cup of tea. Optimism and thoughtfulness carried May through life. She had an extraordinarily sharp mind and read a book a day. She will be forever missed and remembered by her daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley and Joey Blustein and Linda and Brian Dewhirst. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Christopher, Jamie, and Lindsey, and her nieces, Darryl Peters, Nancy Lefebvre, and Marcia Atsavas. May was predeceased by her sister Virginia Brace and her brother Edward Brace. May's family would like to thank the angels of Holmes Circle who worked together to keep May in her beloved home, especially Doris, Ed, Violet, Julie, Rose and Gary. A private memorial service was held earlier this week.