Obituary of Edi Nelson

Our beautiful Edi Nelson (née Edith Peters) passed away peacefully on March 14, 2023 in Saskatoon. She is lovingly adored and remembered by her husband Steve, sons Kyle (Samantha) and Kris (Nick), her two grandsons, Max and Bowen, siblings Ruth (John), Lyn (Larry), Wally and Ernie (Colleen) and Steve’s siblings Terry, Deborah (Michael), Martha (Don) and Victoria (Edwin) as well as dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

Edi was born on February 29, 1952 in Matsqui, BC to Fred and Toni Peters. She grew up in a Mennonite home, on a small farm. It was bucolic – summers picking raspberries, biking along the US-Canada border, and country life with her family. In 1967, her parents moved the family to Saskatoon and Edi graduated from Walter Murray.

In her 20s, Edi opted for adventure. She travelled to London to work as an au pair, discovering a love for all things British and saving up for a journey that took her across Europe and Morocco. She later found and married her best friend, Steve Nelson on April 5, 1975. They lived together on Columbia Drive and then built a beautiful home in Riverside Estates where they raised their family. In the 90s they moved to Haultain Avenue and her garden became her favourite summer devotion.

Professionally, Edi turned her hand to building businesses, co-founding Fabulous Fabrics with Mary Nelson and the Saskatoon branch of Sharps Audio Visual with Steve. She finished her working career at London Life. Edi volunteered as a Kinette and a trustee of the Western Development Museum and supported her sons’ activities as an enthusiastic fan (though sometimes with a book in the bleachers – we never minded).

Edi relished retirement, spending time with Kyle, Sam and her grandsons Max and Bowen in BC, visiting Kris in Dublin and London and sharing endless laughs, adventures and projects with her soulmate Steve. The two loved exploring the province; wiling the summer away on sandbars discovered on boat trips on the river. Edi was a loyal and empathetic friend, always on the look-out for fun, a chance to croon, harmonise, and visit. She charmed every room she entered with her sparkling dark eyes, her engaging wit, her kindness and generous spirit. Edi loved games; her lucky touch meant she skunked us all at backgammon, bridge and pretty much everything else – we always howled.  She loved to read, her imagination taking flight into books of all genres, but especially whodunnits.

Edi will be deeply missed and cherished always by her family and friends. We know she’s with us at every bend in the river, laugh at a party, and turn of the page.

A memorial will gather friends and family this summer. The family invites you to make a donation to Saskatoon Public Library in her name.