Colleen Annette (Jones) Nielsen

Colleen is predeceased by her husband Kent Nielsen (1993), brother Bruce Jones (2018) and parents Frank and Violet Muriel Jones (nee Taylor). She is survived by her daughters, Stacey Nielsen (Lawrie) and Dana Juba (Larry); her grandchildren: Jonathon (Marnie), Rachel (Jeff), and their father Rick Aiello, Josh (Carmen), Madeline (Graeme) and Mallory; and her great-grandchildren Joel (Freddie), Maria (Brandon), Theron, Sonia, Amelia, Harriet, Aislynn and Holden. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and life-long and new friends.

Colleen was born in Vancouver, B.C. and grew up in a loving, creative and musical family. She carried on these traditions, starting young as a gardener in the Victory Gardens during WWII, playing the piano and singing with her family. Then later in life learning handbells and drums, singing in a choir and tole painting. Colleen was a whiz at crosswords and puzzles. She inherited her father's gift for witty rhymes and limericks and wrote her own for occasions all throughout her life, often saying they came to her in the night (she kept a pen and paper by her bed).

She was always proud of the fact that her Dad was the Comptroller and then Commissioner of Finance for the City of Vancouver. He was very well respected and frequently featured in the newspapers as the young city grew. The family also appeared in the Social pages. Two stand out:  the story of her surprising a burglar when she was 8, and a picture of her Mom and Dad meeting Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh (Colleen was officially invited as well).

She met her husband, Kent, at King Edward High School. Some friendships that she formed during school years lasted to the end of her life. After high school Colleen attended secretarial college and took a job as a stenographer for the then, B.C. Telephone Company. She was very proud of her shorthand and used it later on to write Christmas lists that no one else could read.

Colleen and Kent married on July 25, 1952. Soon after, they moved to Calgary and then later to Winnipeg for Kent’s work. Lasting friendships were forged wherever she went. Their daughters were born in Calgary and Colleen filled her days with the job of homemaker. She enjoyed needlework and gardening. She was always interested in current events and in Winnipeg joined the Voice of Women.

As her girls grew, she became first a “Brown Owl” in the Guiding Movement and then later, a “Tawny Owl” when the family moved back to Vancouver in 1966, settling in Burnaby. After her first grandchild was born, she and Stacey went to night school where she obtained her Early Child Educator Diploma. She worked in a childcare centre for one year after that.

As a young person Colleen travelled with her parents to City Hall conventions. She and Kent went to Hawaii with friends several times over the years. After Kent’s death in 1993, she travelled with Stacey to visit Jonathon in Denmark, stopping on the way for tours of England and Scotland. Colleen also enjoyed trips with friends to Mexico, Hawaii, England and Italy, and road trips through Canada and the States.

Colleen generously opened her home and heart to many young people over the years. This included copious amounts of tea and coffee, ice cream bars and chocolate. Numerous young people lived in her home while attending post-secondary school. Eventually her granddaughter and great-grandson came to live with her which extended into grandson-in-law and great-granddaughter – a loving arrangement spanning 27 years.

Colleen enjoyed all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many others over the years called her “Gran.” Moving to Courtenay with her granddaughter’s family she quickly made friends and found activities to join. Colleen was a valued member of the Glacier Grannies for about 17 years. Her passion project was creating “Angels,” and she spent many hours with her great-granddaughter creating the miniature fruit to decorate the Angels’ baskets and headdresses. Colleen was a generous supporter of numerous charities, and for many years in Burnaby she was a canvasser and then Area Coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Her final six months were spent in Comox Valley Seniors Village where her interest in people, sense of humour and playfulness quickly helped her settle in. She will be missed by the wonderful staff and residents she was getting to know.

Colleen was surrounded by family and music as she peacefully passed on August 5th. Special thanks to all the staff at Comox Valley Seniors Village and North Island Hospital, Comox Valley, for their kindness, compassion, and care.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday September 6, 2025, at the Crown Isle Ballroom, from 12 – 2 p.m. with light refreshments.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stephen Lewis Foundation (for Glacier Grannies), or any charity of your choice.