December 31, 2023
In Loving Memory (1932-2023) ~
It is with great sadness that the family must now announce the passing of our mother, our Nana Dorothea Nissen.
Mom was a friendly, personable, honourable, giving and loving person who enjoyed the company of those she loved and those who she had befriended during her 91 years. Everyone knew her as Dot. She passed away at Evergreen Seniors in Campbell River BC on New Years Eve with her son by her side.
Born into a large family on the Alberta prairie in 1932 Mom spoke of never knowing the hardships of the depression era because of the strength of her family. She was also proud to say that she was descended from original Alberta settlers from Sweden. Her father, Albert, was named for the new place his family had recently move to, a place recently renamed as Alberta.
Dot trained as a teacher and taught in a one room school south of Calgary. She married her husband Bob in 1956 and together with her three boys the family lived in Calgary until moving to Saratoga Beach in 1982. From 1972 on Dot and the family spent every summer building then working at Pacific Playgrounds Resort which Bob built. For nearly 30 years she ran the office and she enjoyed every minute of it. She remained connected to several resort customers until her death.
Mom treasured her home on the beach and the condo in California where she and Bob spent their winters for over 20 years. She loved to garden and was justifiably proud of her well landscaped yard and especially her roses.
Mom was an enthusiastic member of the Red Hat Society at home and in California. She was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority since 1966 and she remained connected to sisters in Calgary and California. The local sisters have been valued friends and supporters for decades and throughout her illness.
Mom was predeceased by her husband Bob, son Jim, parents Ada and Albert, sisters Helena and Yvonne, brother Nelson, her special brother-in-law Joe and her beloved daughter-in-law Lorraine who Mom called the daughter she never had.
Left behind to mourn her passing and to celebrate her many contributions to our lives are sons Don and Rob, grandson Derek and his mother Wendy. S
he is survived by sisters Yvonne and Clarice (Dwayne) and a large, loving extended family who mainly live in the central Alberta area she loved.
She is also survived by Lorraines family, the MacMurchy family in Calgary, who became so very cherished, enjoyed and loved by Mom and who have been a tremendous support through her recent illness.
Mom valiantly fought her cancer for six years but in the end age and the cancer won the battle. The family want to thank the many professional staff at VIHA and at the Campbell River Hospital who cared for her over those years. Doctors Noel, Procter and Morrison have all supported Mom as have the wonderful ladies in Cancer Care.
We are also very grateful to the management and staff at Evergreen Seniors who gave Mom exceptionally caring and compassionate care during her final days.
Thanks as well to Moms niece Bev who has been a very helpful family support throughout her illness.
The family also want to extend a heartfelt thanks to friend Peter Dussome who was a helper and a resource for both Bob and Dot over many years. His many contributions helped Mom stay in her home as she aged.
At Mom's request there will be no service. A private interment ceremony at the Courtenay Civic Cemetery will be held for family and friends.