Roxanne Nelson, devoted to family, service
Roxana (Roxanne) Nelson of Rehoboth Beach passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
Roxanne was born in Springfield, Ill., to Leslie W. and Gertrude R. Knott. She grew up in Bethesda, Md., and attended University of Delaware, where she met and married the love of her life, Leonard (Lenny) Nelson.
After a few years in New Jersey, the family moved to Seaford, where Roxanne began working as a teaching assistant. Over the next several years, she raised her family, worked, and went to school part time, eventually completing her master’s in education from the University of Delaware. Over the next several years, she taught in elementary schools in Seaford, Milford and Rehoboth Elementary, where she taught generations of kindergarten children. She was named Cape Henlopen Teacher of the Year in 2000 and retired in 2001.
Roxanne continued to be just as active in retirement with several volunteer organizations including Read Aloud Delaware, Village Improvement Association, and Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park. She often served on the board and led the organizing of several annual events. Every event, donation or interaction with children was beautifully and lovingly delivered. She formed her own nonprofit, Reading Opens Doors, which gifted libraries of books to children moving into their Habitat for Humanity homes. She made many friends along the way, and her passion for serving others was a lifelong commitment. She was recognized in 2017 with the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, and in 2018 with the DAR Community Service Award.
Throughout their 52 years together, Lenny and Roxanne enjoyed traveling around the U.S., especially sailing and boating on the Chesapeake, cruising the 7,000-mile Great Loop and running annual ski trips to Vermont. They planned and built three different homes over the years along the Rehoboth Bay wetlands, where they never tired of watching the birds and wildlife.
Roxanne was devoted to her family and loved her children and grandchildren without reservation. She introduced them over the years to cooking, art, and nature with a sense of wonder and fun that only an elementary teacher can impart.
Roxanne is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard (Lenny) Nelson. She is survived by her two children, Zoanne Nelson (Alwin Chan) and Michael Nelson (Cheryl); five grandchildren, Clayton Nelson (Katelyn) and Chase Nelson (Taylor Schreffler), Kyril Panfilov, and Leo and Emily Chan; great-granddaughter, Lainey Nelson; and sister, Sylvia Gentili.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where friends and family may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be private.
All who cannot attend in person are invited to join the services via livestream by visiting the following link: parsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/permalink/10797161/LTWebcast.
In memory of her great love of service, donations may be made to Read Aloud Delaware, 108 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947, readalouddelaware.org; Village Improvement Association, P.O. Box 144, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, rehobothbeachvia.org; or Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park, P.O. Box 132, Nassau, DE 19969, friendsofcapehenlopen.org.
Visit Mrs. Nelson's Life Memorial webpage and sign the online guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
