Phyllis J. (Mason) Nielsen

Phyllis Jeanine Mason Nielsen was born in Mitchell, South Dakota to Loretta and Stephen Charles Mason. Phyllis attended schools in South Dakota and Indiana. She served for 50 years as a Registered Nurse. During Phyllis’ career she worked in emergency services as well as critical care areas. She held several supervisory positions over the years including the Directorship of Poudre Valley emergency services at Fort Collins, CO from 1979 to 1986 whereupon she relocated to Albuquerque, NM. There she became a dedicated hospice nurse employed by Presbyterian Hospital. Hospice care was truly the love of Phyllis’ professional life.

Phyllis was married to Lyman R. Nielsen in Denver, CO in 1965. They lived for several years at Fort Collins where he passed away in 1988.

Phyllis was a lifelong Catholic particularly devoted to Mary, the Mother of God. She was a member of St. Bernadette Church in Albuquerque and then St. Thomas Aquinas in Rio Rancho, and a professed lay Dominican. She was a voracious reader and was a student of the Great Books of the Western World.

Phyllis leaves two children, Sabrina Nielsen of Madison, WI and Christopher Nielsen of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Tyler, John and Adam Nielsen whom Phyllis truly adored. She leaves these children a heritage of faith in God and an ability to love deeply. Two sisters survive Phyllis, Beth Mackey of WA state, and Sharon Mason of Albuquerque, NM; in-laws, Jo Knight and Stan Goddard; as well as beloved extended family members including several nieces and nephews of three generations and a large community of friends who had the pleasure of her great healing capacity.

A visitation will begin at 10:45 a.m. Rosary will be held Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1502 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM.

She will be laid to rest at Santa Fe National Cemetery Santa Fe, NM. In lieu of flowers, please make donation to the Origins Pregnancy Care Center, www.originscenter.org or your local hospice center.