Therese Ann Nelson, 66, of Indianapolis, IN, passed away on December 11, 2024 peacefully in her home.

Known to her friends and family by many different nicknames, Ms. Tracy, Auntie Bo were some of the most common.

Therese was born on October 29, 1958 to Monica and William Barry in Tulsa Oklahoma.

One of nine siblings, she grew up in Palatine, Illinois after her father was relocated to the Chicago area while working for American Airlines as a Captain. She often spoke of her childhood and how great it was growing up with wonderful siblings and parents in the Chicagoland area.

After graduating from Fremd High School in 1976  she met Michael Nelson of Waseca Minnesota, and they wed in 1988, going on to have two sons, Michael "Mickey" Warren Nelson II and Thomas William Nelson. Together they coparented their two sons who reside in the Houston, Texas area.

She became a grandmother to Tara Nelson in October 2019 and was over the moon and thought the world of her. She would say she couldn’t have enough pictures of “wee Tara”.

She loved her two boys as she still called them into their mid 30s and enjoyed keeping in touch with her daughter-in-law Laura Nelson who was much better at taking and sending pictures than her two grown sons were. She loved her many nieces and nephews and kept lines of communication whether through themselves or their spouses to be able to see their families grow and loved being part of such a large family. She enjoyed following NFL Football, Baseball and PGA golf and shared that connection with her two sons via texts and calls most weekends.

In her later years, she met and shared a longtime partnership with Steven Christman whom she loved. They enjoyed time in their garden which she loved to talk about and share. She was a lover of books and knowledge. She enjoyed having deep and challenging conversations with her friends and family. She loved hosting social events and gatherings at her home with friends of all walks of life and ages. She adored her two little dogs which she shared with Steven and would spoil and take funny pictures with herself and her two companions.

Tracy never met a stranger and the people that spent time with her knew immediately how genuine her true soul was. She was a smart, quick witted and very spiritual person.

Although she had a small frame and stature and a soft voice most of the time, she had a laugh that would overtake the room. People loved to be around her and her energy, and she always made the best of the situation or time that she had with people.

She valued her relationships with her siblings and family, and always tried to stay connected and involved in their lives even if it had to be at a distance. She had a truly kind heart loved her family and friends deeply, and was always thinking of others.

Therese instilled so many of her wonderful traits in her boys and loved ones. If this were her only legacy, she would be proud.

Therese was preceded in death by her Father William Barry, and Brother William "Buddy" Barry.

Therese is survived by her son Michael Warren Nelson II and spouse Laura, and son Thomas William Nelson and granddaughter Tara Nelson.

She is also survived by her mother, our “Nana”, Monica Barry and siblings Crescentia Neuman, Colleen Haas, Monica Hofmann, Timothy Barry, Mary Margaret Schmalriede, Daniel Barry and Patrick John Barry.

And many of nieces and nephews whom she loved.

A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again. —MAYA ANGELOU

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