Nellie T. Berg Obituary
Nellie Margaret Thomsen Berg, Rockland County native, devoted mother and wife passed away on May 13, 2023 at the age of 100 from complications of alzheimer's disease.. She was born in her childhood farm house on Christmas Hill Road in Monsey, New York during a fierce snowstorm December 27, 1922. Her parents, Anna Quackenbush Thomsen and Julius Thomsen welcomed a daughter, Nellie after their two sons, John and Aime were born; both whom Nellie was especially close to. Nellie was a religious girl, and grew up with basic core values and beliefs taught to her at the Airmont Lutheran Church; and from her strict Dutch and German parents who held their children to high standards of conduct, honesty, a strong work ethic, and family first.
As a child, Nellie always came home from school and helped with harvesting the fruits and vegetables, feeding the animals, caring for the family milking cow, "Bessie", and of course, completing her homework. This was quite a feat since there was no electricity, radio, tv, heat or running water to make her life easier. To stay warm, she slept with a warmed brick in the winter months. Everyone who knew Nellie, attributed her longevity to her work ethic, stubborn drive, determination and her participation in basketball and baseball teams growing up.
As she grew older, she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir at her church. These traits helped her survive Covid when she was 99 years old in May 2022. Nellie graduated Salutatorian of her class and went on to become a Registered Nurse, graduating from St. Luke's School of Nursing, Class of 1944 in Newburgh, NY. In later years, Nellie organized the first all-class reunion for St. Luke's and over 180 former graduates attended that spanned all the years. Upon graduation, Nellie worked at Nyack Hospital on the Med/Surgical floor until she married.
She lived right on the grounds of the hospital in the nurse's home located where the gazebo stands presently. Back then, Nyack Hospital had their own ambulance that Nellie rode in to pick up the patients. She often told her children of the time the driver was going so fast, that the entire ambulance flipped over with her in it. Luckily, no one was injured. She also remembered how proud she was to wear her nurse's cap while on duty and remarked her regret that nurses no longer held to that standard. Back in the day, Nellie was a typical woman of her time.
She left her position at the hospital to marry Charles Bernard Berg of Spring Valley and raise her family. They were married 34 years until his death in 1986. Nellie was known for her family gatherings. Upon rising each day, she always wore an apron around the house. She enjoyed cooking and especially baking, making each guest or family member their favorite dessert. There was always an abundance of food, enough for a few more. Nellie loved gardening and all kinds of flowers, plants and trees. Her father planted many of the trees on her property in Nanuet because he wanted her to always remember her roots and humble beginnings from whence, she came.
He planted one of every kind of shrub or bush that came from the 60 acre farm where she grew up. She regarded her trees as she did her friends and felt grieved when a bush or tree perished, or met their demise from a mysterious, unexpected end. Nellie had great determination, drive and inner strength. She volunteered with the Rockland County Public Health to administer shots in the various schools in Rockland County. Nellie's mantra was to help others. That was her pleasure. For the sick and infirmed, she was known for her homemade chicken soup and banana bread.
She gave of her time and knowledge to neighbors who needed guidance medically or with injections. Nellie worked with the late Senator Linda Winikow to set up guidelines for a fluoridation program for children here in the County. Nellie was very astute politically and attended many Clarkstown Town Meetings, Rockland County Legislature Meetings and the Nanuet Civic Association meetings. She and her husband were not shy about voicing their opinions about politics of the day. The dinner table discussions were always rich with intellectually stimulating hot topics on the political landscape and her children were also encouraged to express their thoughts.
One topic she was both passionate and abhorred by was the female mutilation of young girls and women in Africa. Nellie was an avid reader of the New York Times and a wonderful conversationalist. Wherever she went, she was able to meet interesting people by simply identifying a connection and striking up a conversation. She often said she possessed the ability to get anyone to talk. This gift enabled her to establish a rapport and develop some unique, interesting and long-lasting friendships far beyond her initial encounters.
Nellie loved talking about "old times" of Rockland County. Reminiscing with life long friend John Duryea , (Duryea Farms) forever brought gladness and comfort to her heart. Nellie always had a passion for genealogy; she researched her heritage tracing her background to a Revolutionary soldier and became a proud member of the Shatemuc Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was also a life member (with good friend Anna Koch) of the Eastern Star and the Amaranth organizations. As she became older, she joined the Red Hat Society in New City and met many new friends, including her dear friend, Lois Joseph.
Another passion of Nellie's was her love of antiques and collectibles. She became knowledgeable and learned much from her Great Aunt Suzie Quackenbush of Ramsey, NJ . She inherited Americana heirlooms from her family and also loved visiting garage sales searching for special finds to add to her collections. She influenced her husband in this regard and he became interested as well. And together they enjoyed driving around on the weekends to various garage sales or estate auctions. and meeting interesting people.
They also shared a love of Cape Cod and vacationed in Falmouth, Massachusetts, as well as Maine for many years. During our country's Bicentennial Celebration, Nellie traveled to various venues in Rockland County displaying her family's homemade antique quilts and giving quilt talks. She wore a colonial frock that she sewed herself. She also enjoyed crocheting blankets during her spare time which she often gave away to those in need. When Nellie turned 90+ she was recognized by the Rockland County Legislature for her dedication to caring for the sick and disadvantaged as a nurse.
A certificate was presented to her by Legislator Annie Paul. Nellie was a connoisseur of chocolate; hardly a day went by that she didn't ask for and receive a piece of milk or white chocolate preferably surrounding a glob of peanut butter. During the holidays she always looked forward to her favorite Adirondack Mountain chocolate truffles or coconut patties. Nellie was always devoted to her family. Her children were Charles Earl Berg who predeceased her in 2008 and Nellann Berg who survives her. Her daughter wishes to recognize home caregivers who assisted her mother, Eileen O'Shea, Peg McNamara, Christine Hipgrave, and Chinyere Markovich.
While Nellie was recuperating at a local nursing home from a fall at home, Nellie was blessed to be cared for by the ultimate compassionate dedicated employees in the OT and PT departments Priscilla and Marjana, and many loving , sincere aides, but especially Erlande, Carol, and Anne Marie. Special gratitude goes to friend Donald Ryan who was extremely kind and generous to her and participated in her physical care and general welfare day and night by lifting her in and out of bed, feeding her, even accompanying her in an ambulette to out-patient visits to the hospital.
Additionally, Dr. Arthur Appel and Dr. Mathew Lonberg, both of whom were her caring Doctors for many years. If you wish to donate to a charity near and dear to Nellie's heart, please consider NAMI of Rockland (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), Camp Venture in Nanuet, the Nanuet Ambulance Corps, Fire Department, or the Alzheimer's Association of Rockland County. Visitation will be Friday May 19, 2023 from 10 a.m.-12 at the Wanamaker and Carlough Funeral Home Suffern, NY. Services to follow. Internment will be at the Airmont Lutheran Cemetery.
