Emily Nelson, 82, of Grand Island died Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at Good Samaritan Village in Grand Island.
Mass of Resurrection will be at 10 am Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Father Jonathan Sorensen will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Friday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with a 7 pm vigil service.
Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
Mrs. Nelson was born on January 13, 1931 in Grand Island to Manuel A. and Geronima (Portillo) Puente. Shortly after giving birth, Emily's mother passed away. Her father later married Juana Guererro. Emily grew up and received her education in Grand Island.
She was united in marriage to Jimmie Nelson on July 5, 1958 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island. They made their home in Grand Island where she worked for the Twin Rivers Egg Production Plant. Emily and her sister, Connie, worked together at Leon Plastics for 23 years; commuting together every day was special for both sisters. She then worked for the Midtown Holiday Inn for 10 years. In 2008 Jimmie and Emily gathered with their family and friends at St. Mary's Cathedral Square to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Throughout their lives together Emily and Jimmie loved to ballroom dance and attend Husker football games together. She was always an animal lover, and especially loved her cocker spaniel Arthur, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family. Emily's greatest attributes were her patience in others and her endless faith in the Lord, both of which she instilled in her children and grandchildren. She truly had a servant's heart for those around her.
Mrs. Nelson was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral where she was active in the Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society.
Survivors of the immediate family include her husband, Jimmie of Grand Island; a son, Darrell (Julie) Nelson of Grand Island; a daughter, Tracey (Chris) Roberts of Concord, NC; three grandchildren, Jackson Roberts, Lauren Roberts and Claire Nelson; five sisters, Connie Puente, Mary Puente, Carmen Luna, all of Grand Island, Virginia (Richard) Soto of Wood River, Teresa (Richard) Brown of Omaha; three brothers, John (Ramona) Puente of Omaha, Manuel (Josie) Puente of Grand Island, and Andrew (Nancy) Puente of Grand Island; two sisters-in-law, Doris Puente of Baltimore, MD and Polly Puente of Grand Island.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Emily was preceded in death by her father, Manuel, and her mother, Geromina, and step mother, Juana; and two brothers, Phillip and Thomas Puente.

Mass of Resurrection will be at 10 am Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Father Jonathan Sorensen will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Friday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with a 7 pm vigil service.