Bertina Nelson Carlson

Beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, passed away on Christmas Day 2012, at the age of 107. Bertina was born on February 23, 1905, in Barron, Wisconsin, one of eleven siblings. She was the first member of the Nelson family to graduate from high school, after which she took a business course at the Red Wing Seminary in Minnesota. Following a move to Northwest Indiana in 1924, Bertina met her future husband, Eric G. Carlson, and began work at the Gary National Bank. She worked for seven years before taking time off to raise her daughter, Rachel, in Hobart. Bertina returned to work in 1942
to assist the war effort and remained in banking until 1970 when she retired as an assistant manager. In 1972, following the death of her husband, Bertina learned to drive an automobile. She remained self-sufficient for the remaining decades of her life, living on her own until the age of 102. Over the years, Bertina stayed true to her financial background by counting collection money on Sundays at Augustana Lutheran Church and by volunteering in the St. Mary's Hospital gift shop. She also created wonderful crafts such as knitted blankets and holiday decorations she donated to charity and gave as presents. Her exceptional handiwork will be cherished for many years. Bertina was also an unusually strong individual. She survived two heart attacks and three bouts with cancer, the first in the 1960s
and the most recent when she was 100 years old. Bertina Carlson was preceded in death by her husband, with whom she will be reunited after 40 years apart. She is survived by her daughter, Rachel M. Feldman; her former son-in-law, Sidney Feldman; her three grandchildren, Mark Feldman (Ting), Erik Feldman (Toby), and Karen Venditti; six great-grandchildren, Kyle Venditti, Addie Feldman, Payton Feldman, Ethan Feldman, Konner Feldman and Neena Feldman; numerous nieces and nephews; and loving friends, including Mary Jarosz and Kenny Lomas. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday December 29, 2012 at Rees Funeral Home 600 W. Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana with Rev. Charles R. Strietelmeier officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Lawn Cemetery in Schererville. Visitation will be from 3-8 pm Friday with a 3:30 pm Saint Mary Medical Center Auxillary Service at the funeral home. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, MT.