NIELSEN, Frances Freda (née Weiss)
1932 — 2020
The family of Frances Freda Nielsen (née Weiss) of KLO Road, Kelowna, BC sadly announce her passing away late on April 10, 2020 (Good Friday). She is survived by three sons Guy, John (Val), and James “Jim” Ripley; good friend Shelley Campbell; sister Rose (Rob) Pender; 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; plus many nieces and nephews: Tina Ripley; Maureen Veregin (née Van Spronsen) and Erik Nielsen. She was predeceased by her parents John and Bertha Weiss; brothers Johnny (Vera) Weiss and Ken (Lorna) Weiss; sisters Ella Weiss and Gloria (Morley) Bowyer; brothers-in-law Glen Nicol and Art Ripley; niece Sylvia Olsen; and nephew Alerin Nicol.
Fran was born on October 15, 1932 in Medicine Hat, Alberta to wonderful parents of six children. She attended a country school named Sentinel and graduated in October of 1951 from Alexander High School in Medicine Hat, Alberta. She joined the Air Force and completed the fire control operator course when her life took a sudden turn as she met and soon married Art Ripley the same day that her military group went to London, England.
At age 36, with three sons ages 15, 13, and 10 she went to the University of Manitoba to complete her teaching license. Teaching primary and elementary school was a rewarding experience and a career that lasted until retirement.
Moving from one province / territory to another was the order of the day for 18 years. Clinton, Ontario (two times); Winnipeg, Manitoba (three times); Mcdonald, Manitoba; and Whitehorse, Yukon. She would smile describing the short-term employment she had with all the moving: typist, drug store clerk, clerk typist, and foster mother to three native children. In 1976, she married Erik Nielsen and they settled in the Kelowna area then later to Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Fran was an avid Bridge Player and enjoyed introducing newcomers to the game where they played at her residential complex. She enjoyed her small raised garden made available by the Mountainview Recreational Department and petting and feeding the rented chickens, which reminded her of days growing up on the farm. Above all Fran was known as an extremely kind and thoughtful person and will be missed by her family and friends.
Due to the Covid-19 situation there are no set dates for memorials or celebrations of life. A legacy website will be available online under www.jimripley.ca/fran
The family wishes to commend the Kelowna General Hospital and workers who made her final days with her close family as comfortable as possible.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Gospel Mission of Kelowna, kelownagospelmission.ca would be appreciated. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences.”
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of NIELSEN Frances Freda nee Weiss 1932 — 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique