Obituary of Valerie Diana Nielsen

Valerie Diana Nielsen age 95 passed away peacefully surrounded by love on July 3, 2024. Born in Dorchester, England August 29,1928 and grew up in Griffithstown, Wales.

Diana as was her preferred name, knew from an early age that she would become a nurse. Her career began in Bristol, England where she attended the Royal College of Midwives. After graduation she became a member of The Royal Airforce, and was stationed in Germany for 4 years, where she worked as a nurse-midwife. Later she immigrated to Canada, where she worked as a registered nurse in Halifax.

After Canada in 1960 she immigrated to the United States through Port Huron, Michigan, and traveled to the Chicago area where she was employed by Evanston Hospital as a Registered Nurse.

A few years later she heard that nurses were needed in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. So off she went and worked at the local hospital as a Nurse midwife. Diana met her husband, Leif and they were married in St. Croix and had their daughter, Pia.

In 1975 Diana and her Family moved back to Chicago where she was employed by Admiral at the Lake as Director of Nursing for many years. Her last employment in the health care field was The State of Illinois as a surveyor and rater of long- term care facilities.

Through out the years Diana, Leif and Pia would travel to Wales, England and Denmark visiting family and friends, and of course every castle and museum along the way. She loved the fine arts, especially spending time with Leif at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Lyric Opera House.

During Diana’s retirement she started art classes, where her talent took off with mixed media collage work. Spending hours at a time creating her master pieces and ultimately was invited to display her artwork at several local venues. Her other passion was loving her 3 cavaliers and training one, Mr. Darcy to be a therapy dog.

After Diana’s husband Leif passed away in 2021, Diana moved from The Danish Home of Chicago to Arbor Lane in Burnsville, Minnesota to be with her daughter and family. She enjoyed her days entertaining the staff with her British humor, daily cups of tea with Pia, Sunday dinners with the family and watching her grandsons mature.

Diana is survived by her daughter Pia McDonough (Michael), her two grandsons Jack and Griffin; sister Judith Batey and brother Huw Davies (Frances). Nieces and nephews Deena, Alyson, Paul, Marianne, Dorthe, Soren, Kurt, and Carsten.

Diana was preceded in death by her loving husband Leif, parents Jesse and Doris, mother and father-in-law Toni and Harry, brother-in-law Bendt, sisters-in-laws Christa and Henny, niece Anne and nephew Stephen.

We will miss you Mormor.

A Memorial Service will be held at The Edison Park Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois on August 15th , 2024, 11AM.

Donations may be made to The Danish Home of Chicago and Edison Park Lutheran Church in memory of Diana Nielsen