Obituary
Weya Alberdiena (Diena) Nelson went to walk with her Savior on August 4, 2021. Diena was born June 23, 1930, in Detroit, MI, to Anton and Abeldiena Boll. She grew up in St. Clair Shores, MI, and graduated from Lakeview High School in 1948. Both Diena and her older brother John Boll, of Grosse Pointe, MI, worked at the family restaurant near the high school, serving their high school friends for lunch. After graduation she moved to St. Louis, MO, to study to become a laboratory technician. There she met her future husband, Eugene Ray Nelson, who was also in the medical field at the time. After getting married, they moved back to Roseville, MI, and joined Calvary Baptist Church. Diena loved Jesus and people. She had the gift of hospitality and was always serving her Savior and others — either in the church kitchen preparing visitation dinners, or in her own kitchen. She served on several mission committees, and their home was always open to missionaries, evangelists and church activities.
Diena was preceded in death by her husband Gene thirteen years ago, and since then, she has continued faithfully attending church and serving those around her, always being ready with a meal, a smile and a huge hug. Since the early 60’s, she and Gene vacationed each year in New Smyrna Beach, FL, and they eventually made it their permanent residence in 2005. She often visited other members in her condo complex, taking care of anyone who needed it, and tending to the flowers and landscaping.
Diena is survived by her five children: Diena Briddick of Fort Myers, FL; Reid (Robin) Nelson of Mackinaw City, MI; John Nelson of Charleston, SC; Gene Nelson of Charleston, SC; and Pamela (Skip) Davenport of Coldwater, MI. She is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren: Benjamin (Andrea) Nelson of Minneapolis, MN, with sons Eugene, Garrett and Gilbert; Angela (Brian) Burleigh of Orlando, FL, with daughter, Eleanor and son, Blake; Tim (Allyson) Nelson of Spartanburg, SC, with daughters Caroline, Elizabeth and Anna Reid; Joshua (Melissa) Nelson of Summerville, SC, with daughters Isabella and Charlotte; Daniel (Rachel) Nelson of Waterville, NY, with son, Elijah and daughters Cadence, Aria and Celesta; Heather (Dave) Dzedzie of Chicago, IL, with son, Kaiden; Aaron (Farren) Jacobson of St. Clair, MI, with children Addison, Elynn Joy, Nickolas and Liam; Gina (Blake) Nagengast of Greenville, SC; Rachael (Curtis) Helms of Charlotte, NC, with sons Zachary and Matthew; Michael (Jennifer) Nelson of Grays, SC, with sons William and John Michael; Lauren Briddick (Aaron Jurzysta) of Marine City, MI, with daughter, Mara; Tiffany Jacobson of Coldwater, MI, with son, James Johns; Mark Nelson of Charleston, SC; Adam (Janessa) Abdelnabi of Charleston, SC, with sons Zachary, Dillon and Austin; Caleb (Jennifer) Nelson of Charleston, SC, with sons Jonah and Eli; Ben Abdelnabi of Charleston, SC; and Ana Nelson of Charleston, SC. Diena was preceded in death by her sister Riene’ Wheatley, her son-in-law Jake Jacobson, and her grandson Joshua Abdelnabi.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Lockwood Community Church in Coldwater, MI. A luncheon will follow at the church. A service will also be held in New Smyrna Beach, FL, on November 13 on the beach outside her home at the Win-San Condominiums.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the following missionaries: Steve Lauhoff, GFA Missions, 1809 Wade Hampton Blvd, Suite 110, Greenville, SC 29609 or Matthias and Juan Carlos Brooks, BEMA, 4744 Winchester Pike, Columbus, OH 43232.
Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance were her trademarks. Galatians 5:22