Published May 1, 2020
MELROSE — William J. Nelson, May 17, 1936 – April 25, 2020. Heaven has gained a special angel today.
He was 83 and a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather (Papa) and friend to too many to count. Today, as we have always joked, a man who fathered four girls but had one bathroom at home will not have to wait at the pearly gates – he will be welcomed and sent right through.
Bill lost his short battle with the horrific virus COVID-19, with his wife by his side, on April 25 at Fairhaven in Lowell.
Bill was born to the late William and Grace Nelson in Fall River/Attleboro and had one sister, the late Carol Jennings. He grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School, class of 1954, with his high school sweetheart Barbara Phimister (Nelson). They later married on November 4, 1956 and had an amazing 63 years together.
Right out of high school, he went to work for the telephone company (MaBell…New England Telephone….Verizon) for 40 years and had hundreds of insulators/cobble stones to prove it; one of his many collections, which Barbara always loved. He never missed a chance to cause trouble/mischief wherever he was and whoever he was with. From Billerica, Burlington, Hudson, Pine Street in Melrose, The A Frame, log cabins, and of course Shelia’s Grove in Merrimack – everyone he came in contact with has a funny “Bill Nelson Story.” If you weren’t laughing or smiling, you never really met our Dad/Papa… or you were the brunt of his jokes.
Family, faith and friends meant the world to him and Bill and Barbara always made time for all three. He was an avid Boston sports fan – all of them! If the players could not hear him yelling through the TV we would be surprised.
He, by far, is the biggest Disney fanatic we know; the Disney Cruise staff knew him by name. He made sure to save up working two jobs to bring his family to Disney in 1976 and every couple years after that. He has inspired countless Disney vacations enjoyed by all four of his daughters and their families. He looked forward to every outing, whether it be to one of his grandchildren or great-grandchildren’s events, or to grab a card and scratch tickets for Barbara.
He is survived by his loving wife Barbara; his four daughters/spouses; Lynne and Dan Shea, Gayle and George Sweet, Lori and Bill Chisholm, and Joanne and Dana Boisvert; his 11 grandchildren/spouses; Paul and Julie Shea, Laura and Julia Shea-Pelosi, Arkaide Shea, Samantha Sweet, Catherine Sweet, Bobby Chisholm, Danielle Chisholm, Brian Chisholm, McKenna Boisvert, Mallory Boisvert, Adeline Boisvert; and three great-grandkids; Grover Shea-Pelosi, Lincoln Shea and Paxton Shea.
Due to COVID-19, Bill will be cremated. The time and location of his memorial service will be determined at a later date, so we can celebrate his amazing life with all of our family and friends, once we are allowed to return to our “new normal” life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s name to St. Jude Children’s research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or @ www.stjude.org.
Please send the family a card, drop a card at the funeral home for the Nelson family or send a message at gatelyfh.com. Arrangements by Gately Funeral Home, Melrose.