NIELSEN, Signe Christiane - (February 10, 1926 – November 5, 2020)
Our beloved Mother left this life the same way she lived it - peacefully and with grace.
She lived independently til the end, almost into her 95th year, always saying, ‘I want to keep doing as much as I can for as long as I’m able’.
While her day-to-day abilities dimmed in the past few years, Mom was still a wily card player, ardent Blue Jays fan and avid reader. She followed politics and watched the news every day to keep up with current events.
She was always an early adopter of good TV comedy, recommending many now-classic programs to her family. She learned to use a computer at an advanced age, and gave her children joy with her regular greetings – ‘just a note to say have a good day, love you - Mom’.
Signe is survived by her daughter Kirsten (Gerry), son John (Roberta), and grandsons Erin (Kim) and Jesse (Abby). Sadly missed by brothers Christian (Inge) and Gunnar (Ella, d.) in Denmark, and sisters-in-law Eva (Don), and Kirsten (Rudolf, d.), along with her nephews, nieces, three great-grandchildren, and extended family in Canada and Denmark.
Predeceased by husband Reinholdt (aka ‘Ray’), the great love of her life, and eldest son Erik (Susan, d.), as well as brothers Anton (Agathe) and Thomas (Maria). After both Dad and Erik passed away much too soon, Mom took over the family business, Nielsen’s Motorsports, in Aurora ON. However, she was never really cut out for the role of owning a motorcycle and snowmobile business, and was happy when she sold ‘the shop’ and settled into a less hectic life.
Still, Mom wasn’t quite ready to retire, and enjoyed several successive part-time jobs in her golden years. In all these roles, she made many lasting friendships.
Signe was born on a farm near Viborg, Denmark, and moved to Canada in 1956 with Ray and her two young children. She loved Canada, and enjoyed exploring and learning about her new country. She was delighted that youngest son John was born in Canada. Above all, she cherished her family and friends, both old and new. In recent years, Mom spent many happy hours playing cards on Wednesdays at the Seniors Centre in Aurora with the ’50 cent gang’, and keenly felt the loss of that contact when COVID changed the world.
We don’t quite know yet how we will carry on without Mom’s boundless love and guidance, but she raised us with the tools to figure it out. She kept a hand-written note on her fridge that she looked at every day and it says everything about her approach to life: ‘You will never have this day again – make it count!’
The family would like to thank the Paramed personal care workers who helped Mom at home over the past two years, especially Natalie, as well as the medical staff at both the Southlake and Humber River Regional Healthcare Centres who cared for Mom in her final few weeks.
There’s a wonderful line at the end of the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ when the Wizard presents the Tin Man with his new heart and says: ‘Remember my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.' By that measure, Mom’s heart can indeed be judged enormous, as she was beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know her. Not least her family, who count ourselves unbelievably lucky to have been showered by her love every day of our lives.
Arrangements with Thompsonfuneral home, Aurora. Due to COVID restrictions, a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the War Amps or the Heart and Stroke Fund is appreciated, or to a charity of your choice.
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