Obituary of Phoebe Hollis Nelson

Phoebe Hollis “Holly” (Hansen) Nelson passed away on April 2nd, 2025, at the age of 81. She was a beloved wife, sister, mother, granny, Godmother, cat-mom, cousin, colleague, and friend.  

Phoebe was born on Christmas Day, 1943 in Minneapolis, MN, to Robert and Phoebe Jane (Hallenberg) Hansen. She was a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities and attended both University High School in Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.  

In 1973 she married her husband of 51 years, John Nelson, and they built a beautiful life together. In a span of three and a half years they had three children: Phoebe Sarah, Matthew, and Phillip. Raising three kids can be chaotic, and even though the house was not always spotless and the laundry was not always folded, the house was full of love and laughter. One of the greatest lessons Phoebe taught her children is that things don’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.  

After the kids left home, Phoebe and John often traveled together. They enjoyed spending time on Lake Superior’s North shore and didn’t mind when the weather was bad because it made for the best waves. They went on two European bike trips with their friends (the “Old Farts on Bikes”) and loved exploring the food, culture, and landscape of Italy and Austria. They visited Yellowstone and Vancouver Island and made the trip to Spokane, WA to visit family multiple times. Phoebe loved exploring new places, and also seeing old places in new ways. 

Phoebe worked at Safco Products until her retirement in 2011. She was a customer service representative and then the manager of the mail room and she had many friends there. It was not uncommon while walking in a mall or down a street for Phoebe to spot a Safco garbage can, give you a nudge, and whisper, “that’s one of my cans.” 

Phoebe was a beloved lifelong member at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral where she served on the Altar Guild and took great care in cleaning and preparing the church linens each week. The St Marks community meant a great deal to her.  

She was a multifaceted and gifted artisan who enjoyed quilting, knitting, crochet, sewing, and embroidery. At any given time her studio was strewn with many current projects. The houses of her loved ones are filled with her quilts, scarves, and socks all made with a little bit of extra love. 

Phoebe was an avid music fan. Buddy Holly’s greatest hits and Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert in Cental Park were in constant rotation in the tape deck in Phoebe’s Dodge Aries K. At a Bob Dylan concert in 2005 she gleefully pushed her way up to the stage.  

She was always heading to a social gathering of some sort. In any given week you might find her going to her Wednesday morning coffee group, participating in a quilting retreat, attending a resident happy hour, playing mahjong with friends, or going for a walk with her Goddaughter, Katie. Keeping and maintaining relationships was central to who Phoebe was. 

But most of all Phoebe was kind. No kindness was too small or insignificant for her to make the effort. Kindness mattered to her. Once while at a restaurant, Phoebe saw a dime on the floor. While most of us would have ignored it or pocketed the dime, she picked it up and gave it to her server because it was the kind and right thing to do.  

Phoebe is survived by her husband John Nelson, her brother Barry Hansen, her children Phoebe Sarah (David) Oosterhuis, Matthew Nelson, and Phillip (Britta) Nelson, her grandchildren, Logan Nelson, and John Archer and Phoebe Evelyn Oosterhuis, many treasured extended family members and a vast community of wonderful friends.   

She is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Phoebe Hansen. 

Phoebe’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 29th at 1:00 pm at St Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, MN (519 Oak Grove Street). In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Marks, a place that meant so much to Phoebe. 

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