Obituary of Beth Heloise Nelson

WATERLOO - Beth Heloise Mosher Nelson, 98, of Waterloo died March 8, 2023, in Geneva at Living Center North. Interment will be at the convenience of family at Lakeview Cemetery, Interlaken. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, 31 E. Williams St., Waterloo, N.Y., 13165; United Methodist Women at the Waterloo United Methodist Church, 21 E. Williams St., Waterloo, N.Y., 13165; or Beverly's Animal Shelter, 50 E. River St., Waterloo, N.Y., 13165. Beth was born November 2, 1924, in Canandaigua, the daughter of Lester Eugene and Ruth Baldridge Mosher.In high school, Beth was drum majorette for the Interlaken Central School marching band where she played percussion and was a baton twirler. She played violin in the school orchestra. June 16, 1942, Interlaken, Beth married Charles Lauren Nelson, whom she met at a dance in Geneva. Beth always loved to dance and dreamed of becoming a Radio City Rockette. A member of Seneca County Home Bureau where she learned - and later taught - skills she put to use remodeling the brick home on West River Street where she raised her family and lived for 78 years. She enjoyed helping build the family cottage on Shady Beach, Cayuga Lake and spending time with family there. Beth supported her husband in running Nelson's Service Station on West River Street, Waterloo, and in his local town of Fayette political career. A member of the United Methodist Church and former Sunday School teacher. An avid bowler, Beth was active throughout her life, and completed 50 folk marches. An Active volunteer with the Smith Opera House and Geneva Chamber of Commerce. She enjoyed reading a variety of literature and in her later years enjoyed talking books from the NYS Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Beth was a passionate recycler and was "the queen of coupons." "She could have two heaping carts full of groceries and with triple coupons at Wegmans would pay under $40," Katie recalled. Beth was an accomplished seamstress, designing many of her own outfits. Her daughter Kathie remembers her sewing many outfits for her, even giving sewing lessons. She loved to do crossword and jigsaw puzzles and had a special rapport with the various cats and dogs she had throughout her life. She enjoyed many of her neighbors recent and past and was grateful for those that assisted her with various tasks in her later years. A woman of strong opinions, she could always tell you what you needed to do and how to do it and as an avid do-it-yourselfer was able to do most of it herself. In the 1960s she attended the Marian S. Wheylan School of Nursing, graduating with her LPN. A nurse of 30 years, Beth enjoyed spending time on surgical and especially maternity floors at the local hospitals. Beth especially loved to travel and adding to her mementos which she had collected in Yugoslavia, Aruba, Santo Domingo, Acapulco, Dominican Republic, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands and Denmark. Her family remembers her at holidays telling of her adventures with her favorite aunts Alice Baldridge Austin (Nelson) and Mary Baldridge Geisler (John). Beth was predeceased by her parents, husband Charles, and sisters Millicent Carpenter (Raymond) and Alice Mosher; sister-in-law Ethel Nelson Martin (Robert); sons David Paul Nelson - infant and Charles Eugene (Chuck) Nelson (Sharon); and nephew Lester Toombs and Cousin Claude Austin. She will be missed by her descendants include: daughter Kathleen (Kathie) R. Nelson, granddaughter Katherine (Katie) A. Nelson; grandsons Adam C. Schell & Alexander N. LeRoy; Cousin in law, Arlene Austin; niece Deborah K. Martin Fuchs (John); nephews Russell C. Martin, Clayton J. Toombs (Chinhe); great nieces Stacey Martin Dykstra (Eric), Casey Fuchs Laidman (Kenny) Jennifer Toombs Barrow, Margaret Toombs; great nephews Erich W. Fuchs (Beth), Ryan Martin (Maila Lowery), Scott Martin (Melissa), Michael Toombs, Nicholas Toombs (Ashley); great -great nieces Charlie Laidman, Emilie Fuchs, Zoey Martin, great-great nephews Austin Fuchs, Grayson & Beckett Laidman, Wesley & Carmelo Martin; 3rd generation cousins Dawn Austin Goda, Alan Goda Jr., Pam Austin Murray (Chris), Bradley, John, Joseph Murray, Jeffrey Austin, Katrina, Natasha, Dominic Austin & special friends Joan French, Robert Schubel, Allen & Patricia Gessner (Walter, Mary, Allison).