Nina Hilda Atchison

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Nina Hilda Atchison (née Dalsvaag) on July 20, 2024, at the age of 77. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Doug; their daughters, Barbara (Stephen), Maureen, and Patricia (Janelle); her grandchildren, Devon (Coleton), Paige(Andrew) and Eric; sister-in-law, Jeanne, and many other family members and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Anton and Astrid Dalsvaag, brother, Arild, sisters, Sigrid and Judy, brothers-in-law, Jim and Norm (respectively). Born in Vancouver General Hospital in November of 1946, Nina spent her early years in Vancouver and North Delta, attending South Delta Secondary where she would meet her lifetime friends. She met Doug, the love of her life, in Kitsilano in 1966. They were married one year later and soon after built their family home in Sunshine Hills.

Nothing meant more to Nina than her family. She was a wonderful and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She raised three independent daughters who she encouraged to follow their own paths. She was her grandkids biggest fan - never missing a school concert, skating competition, baseball game or ukulele performance.

Nina enjoyed her work as the office manager at the accounting firm of Delves Freer Anderson Raniga Caine, where they worked hard and played hard together.

She was a social butterfly. It would take her hours to grocery shop – stopping to talk to everyone. Before she and Doug moved into their home in Cloverdale, she knew all her neighbours. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing cards with her family and friends. She belonged to the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, volunteered her time with the North Delta Baseball and SurDel Soccer associations, her granddaughter’s skating club and sat on four of her Grad Class reunion committees. She was recognized for all the work she had done at their 40th reunion.

She made everyone feel welcome with her warm and enthusiastic smile when she greeted you. She made our home a gathering place for family and friends, organizing and hosting countless Christmas dinners, backyard pool parties, wedding events, baseball windups and more. It was a fun place to be. She was fun. Nina loved to dance and was always moving her feet whether she was in the kitchen or on a dance floor. She and Doug enjoyed RVing with their favourite travel companions, sister, Judy and her husband, Norm. They eventually became snowbirds in California where they made new friends and created great memories.

These last years were not easy on Nina, having been diagnosed with dementia in 2017. She handled it with much grace, never losing her smile - even in the most challenging of times. She cherished the incredible fortune of having Doug in her life, and she made it a point every day to let him know just how deeply grateful she was for his unwavering care and love over the years.

Mom, your love for us runs deep and will live through us, your grandkids and all of those you have touched. You are loved beyond measure. Rest in peace, mama.

We would like to thank the exceptional staff at Care At Home in-home care services, the doctors and nurses in the stroke ward at Surrey Memorial Hospital, and the kind caregivers at Laurel Place Care Centre.

A private cremation and inurnment will be held in the coming weeks, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2pm on September 21, 2024, at Victory Memorial Park and Funeral Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, www.alzheimer.ca or the Heart and Stroke Foundation www.heartandstroke.ca.