Eleanor J. Nielsen

It is with great sadness that we announce Eleanor Joan Nielsen, 86, of Vero Beach, FL and Albany, NY, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025.

Eleanor was born in New York City in 1938. She was the daughter of Charles Hamel and Erna Hamel (Schmidt), and wife to Ronald Nielsen. After graduating from Julia Richmond High School in New York City, Eleanor worked in the medical office of the original Penn Station in Manhattan. She moved with Ronald to Cobleskill, in upstate New York, where they raised their two children, Susan Valerie Goldstein (Nielsen) and Douglas John Nielsen. 

Eleanor loved reading novels and spiritual passages, relished The Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle every week, and enjoyed watching television and old movies. Her favorites: the classic movie, “Some Like It Hot,” as well as the original TV shows, “Hollywood Squares” and “Frasier.” In fact, she had a pair of cats named Frasier and Daphne. She and Ronald were parents to several felines over the years, with her latest love being Zoey, who provided her comfort every day, especially after her husband, Ronald, passed away last June. She absolutely adored Frank Sinatra’s music and had a great appreciation for the American Songbook and Old Hollywood.

Her interests were quite varied, including trips to wineries, casinos, and live theatre and comedy shows, especially a Ron White performance. She had an unceasing love for New York City and looked for any and every reason to visit Manhattan for an extended stay. Her family will always remember her quick-witted wry sense of humor and her love of a good Scrabble game.

Professionally, she parlayed her affinity for medicine and health into becoming an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). She worked at Eden Park Nursing Home in Cobleskill and later became a traveling nurse who performed home-based medical exams for insurance companies. When she left nursing, Eleanor worked for the State of New York for Department of Corrections and the Department of Taxation and Finance.

In retirement, after receiving Family Tree Maker software as a gift, Eleanor made it her life’s work to research and compile an extensive family history, which included taking three trips to Germany and Denmark to meet with relatives and peruse local archives.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, and is survived by her daughter Susan (Michael) Goldstein, her son Douglas (Donna), her grandchildren Gregory Goldstein and David Goldstein, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends and relatives will be informed of a memorial service in the coming months.

The family of Eleanor Nielsen would like to thank the Community Hospice of Rensselaer and their partners at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY, for their loving support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in memory of Eleanor Nielsen to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer or your local animal shelter.