Else Nielsen Stall

Else Nielsen Stall was born November 15, 1922, to Mary Arnber Nielsen and Hans Peter Dideriksen Nielsen in New Orleans and died peacefully at her home in Denver March 27, 2022. Her parents had emigrated from Denmark several years before her birth and all of the family shared a lifelong love of all things Danish. Her brother, Jack Alton Nielsen, was born five years later and the two siblings remained close and loyal to each other throughout her life.

During her formative years she developed an appreciation for Danish traditions and remembered fondly the Sunday night suppers when her parents would host many Danish bachelors. Later in life, she and her brother would tell tales of long Christmas Eve dinners where the adults talked, sang Danish songs, drank Aquavit, and danced around the Christmas tree until the two children at the table would despair of ever getting to open their presents.

As a young child she quickly developed a love of learning and reading and graduated from Sophie Wright High School in New Orleans in 1938. As a graduation present, her parents gave her a trip to Denmark in 1939. While there she thrived happily as her aunt and uncle took her to visit other relatives and lovely European countries.

During the last six months of her life, she told the following story repeatedly, revealing what an indelible mark it left on her character. The great plan for her trip was for her to stay in Denmark for one full year, but unfortunately Hitler had other plans. Her father sent her a telegram advising her that he had booked passage for her on the next ship to come home. Telegrams were considered to be inordinately expensive, and she sent one back that she was "having a great time and did not want to leave." She received another telegram from her father demanding that she come home NOW. The ship on which she returned home went far up into the North Sea, a sobering experience in stark contrast to her joyful sailing to Europe six months before which had been filled with lovely meals, music, and parties. On her ship's subsequent return voyage to London from the US, it was torpedoed by a German submarine. Her father had certainly been right to get her out of harm's way.

Upon returning home, Else enrolled in and graduated magna cum laude from Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University with a major in biology and a minor in Chemistry. In addition to enjoying tennis, volleyball, and archery, she became chair of the school's Chapel Committee.

Throughout her life, she fought intolerance based on ethnicity, disability, religion, or the color of a person's skin. Her firsthand knowledge of what Hitler was doing led to her decision to join the Navy. She was proud of her service as a WAVE and at the time of her death was one of the few living veterans of WWII. However, she laughed when she recalled how she thought she would see the world during her three years of military service. Instead, the New Orleans native trained as a pharmacist's mate in Gulfport, MS and served her entire tour at the Naval Hospital in Memphis, TN.

Following discharge from the Navy, Else was accepted into both LSU and Tulane Schools of Medicine which, at the time, was quite an honor for a woman. While struggling with the decision about enrollment, she was told by several faculty members that, "Even if you were to graduate near the top of your class, the chances are great that you would only be offered the opportunity to teach or do research." This advice caused her to decide not to enroll in medical school because her desired goal was to be a practicing physician.

During the post-war 1940's she worked as a medical secretary in the Radiology Department at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. Much to her delight, one of the radiologists was so impressed with her knowledge base and quick mind that he would occasionally ask her to look at an Xray and render an initial opinion.

On August 27, 1949, Else married the great love of her life, Henry (Hank) Norman Stall and subsequently gave up employment to devote her time to having a family while being a world class wife, mother, aunt and friend. However, she loved re-telling the story of their honeymoon trip to the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon, sites to which they returned for their 25th anniversary. Else and Hank continued their love of travel, enjoying trips throughout the US and around the world.

Else felt forever grateful that their 62 years of marriage were filled with much joy and deep devotion to each other. In addition to her time with Hank, she treasured her family as it grew. She gave birth to five children in New Orleans: Randall Henry Stall, deceased at age 6 (1950), Peggy(1951), Karen(1953), Rick(1956), and Mary(1961). The surviving children have prospered and have, in their turn, presented Else with grandchildren and, in turn, great-grandchildren.

An avid gardener, Else delighted in her beautiful rose bushes most of all. Each season found her enjoying new plantings. She found great peace in her garden and remembered all the lessons which her horticulturist father taught her. Else loved to arrange flowers for the table and no anniversary was complete without a bouquet of red roses from her devoted husband.

She was also known for her delectable cooking. She enjoyed taking French cooking classes and sharing her new recipes with family and dinner guests. Else was the epitome of the gracious hostess. One niece who wrote to her in the last week of her life recalled her aunt designing a big plate of crawfish spelling out WELCOME in big letters. Bringing joy to others brought her joy.

Birthdays and celebrations were of great importance to her. She loved to send wonderful birthday cards to her extended family and to a multitude of friends, trying to have them arrive on their exact birthday. Her angel food cakes were legendary, and many family members and special friends did not consider their birthdays complete until they had received an Else angel food cake! She made not only every birthday special, but also every holiday, especially Christmas.

When each new grandchild was born, she and Hank hopped on a plane to be there and help. In later years, they travelled to celebrate their birthdays in person, letting those children and grandchildren know how special and loved they were. BEING THERE was her credo, for joyful celebrations or if someone needed help. If she had a second creed, it was to be a good listener. So many of the people who sent her emails or cards in the last month of her life thanked her for listening and genuinely caring about their lives.

Upon her husband's retirement after almost seven decades of living in New Orleans, she and Hank relocated to Denver, Colorado -- the mountainous state they both had come to love. Her only brother and sister-in-law lived in nearby Colorado Springs and their eldest daughter lived in Denver. As she always had in the past, Else made new friends and kept the old. By the time they had lived in Denver for a decade, her two younger daughters and their spouses and children had moved to Colorado as well, much to her delight. Her only son, Rick, and his wife and two children who lived in New Jersey, came to Denver and Breckenridge every summer for much anticipated visits. Then, every year, Else and Hank would travel to New Jersey for their grandchildren's birthdays.

Both Else and Hank lived to see their four surviving children married and the birth of six grandchildren. Sadly, after a valiant battle with three different cancers over eight years, Hank passed away on February 6, 2011. He frequently said that he had the most loving caregiver in the world and Else would credit him with being a determined and ideal patient who refused to let cancer get the best of him.

Most people, including Else, could not imagine that she would live for many years without him. However, for the next eleven years she continued to lead a rich life with family and friends while living in the home of her daughter, Mary, son-in-law, Lee, and granddaughters Zoe and Maya. They lovingly cared for her with great compassion, determined to honor her wish "to die at home."

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Else near the end of her life came from the answer to her "Big Wish." Rather than have her out of town children and grandchildren fly to Denver for a Memorial Service when she knew that it was highly unlikely that she would live another two weeks or so, she made the request: "If at all possible, I would love to see my brother and each of my children and grandchildren and their spouses one more time." And come they did....from Pennsylvania, Baltimore, New York City, Albany, NY, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction, CO.

Although she was not fond of technology, she was SO happy to facetime with her grandson in Japan and her three-year old and one-year old great grandsons who needed to stay home with their mother in Baltimore. Else delighted that her 93-year old brother, who had been calling her to say good night at 8:30 pm each night, came to say good-bye with the help of his daughter and son-in-law. Above all else, she treasured her family which would include many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews and a host of very special friends who had become like extended family.

Else represented the good that we all need every day in our lives and was one of a select few who could actually rise to meet challenges with a smile. Her humor, warmth, infectious laugh, caring spirit, listening ear, and compassionate heart will be missed more than words can say, even as her spirit and legacy live on through those who loved and were loved by her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Hank and son Randy and survived by her only brother Jack Nielsen, sister-in-law, Beryl La Bruyere, children Peggy Stall Glascoff (Dave), Karen Stall, Rick Stall (Ellen), and Mary Stall (Lee Ray), grandchildren Jason (Emma Causey), Mike, Emily, Nicholas (Casey Hawley), Zoe, Maya, and Will (Jennifer Wagstaff), and great-grandchildren Nicholas, Sarah, Miles, and Tanner, as well as many nieces and nephews and an abundance of special friends.

In addition, the family wishes to thank the Veterans Administration Home Health Care Program and Hospice of Denver for their compassionate care of Else during the last years of her life.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Worley Family Playground at Children's Hospital New Orleans via two ways: (1) online at https://www.chnola.org/givenow or (2) via check mailed to: Children's Hospital New Orleans / Development Department / 200 Henry Clay Avenue / New Orleans, LA 70118