Dennis Funeral Homes

NELLIE JANE JANDA, age 77 of Elysian died on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Traditions in Waterville.

Born on January 12, 1934 in Barnesville, Minnesota she was the daughter of Dale and Nan (Slyter) Pletcher.  Nellie graduated from Barnesville High School and attended St. Lucas Nursing School in Faribault where she obtained her RN degree.  She married Jerome Janda on October 8, 1955 in Barnesville.  Nellie’s nursing career began in Waterville where she worked for Dr. Buesgens.  She later worked at the Lakeshore Inn in Waseca and also the State Hospital in Faribault.  Nellie had served as the Director of Nursing for Colonial Manor in Waterville and also for the nursing home in Le Center.  Her love and compassion for helping others continued later in life as she was a volunteer for Hospice and also assisted with private home nursing care.  She loved to travel as well as play bridge and cards.  She also loved to cook, bake, read, do needlework, and she especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church-German Lake and was a volunteer with the Elysian Library.

She is survived by her husband, Jerome; three daughters, Corinne (Charles) Dodgen of Apple Valley, Connie (David) Abrahamson of Sherburn, and Cathy (Charles) Cheever of Hansville, WA; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.  She is also survived by one sister, Faye Johnson of Hutchinson; five brothers, Freeland (Lorraine) Pletcher of Moorhead, Dale (Deloris) Pletcher of Eden Prairie, Dean (Bette) Pletcher of Long Lake, Glenn (Sandy) Pletcher of Vermillion, and Jack (Fran) Pletcher of Columbia Falls, MT; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and one nephew, Randy Pletcher.

Private family services are being held.  A gathering to celebrate Nellie’s life will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 2-5 PM at the Prosch-Dennis Funeral Home in Waterville.  Burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.