AILEEN MAE YOUNG NIELSEN 1929 - 2014 Retired educator, wife and mother Aileen Mae Young Nielsen passed away Friday September 26th at the age of 85. She was born in Long Beach, California on January 30, 1929 to Mrs. Harriet Woods Young and Mr. Harry G. Young, an insurance broker/realtor. Her father, a WWI Veteran grew up on a farm outside of Carnie, Nebraska. Her mother's family owned a lumberyard in Redbox outside Billings, Montana. Grandfather Billy Woods befriended notable Westerners Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Young Aileen loved visiting Montana and ranch life. Following grammar school, Aileen attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, befriending future sister in laws Katherine "Trink" Nielsen Smith and Margaret Nielsen Davidson. Aileen studied at Scripps College in Claremont, CA, and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Teaching from UC Berkeley. She obtained a Teaching Certificate and taught elementary school in Torrance, CA. The Nielsen sisters introduced Aileen to their brother John F. Nielsen, a management trainee with Sears Roebuck & Co. in Long Beach, California and they married in 1953 moving to Pasadena, California that year. Son John David Nielsen was born in 1955 and daughter Karen (Karinna) Nielsen was born in 1957. Aileen and Family moved to Honolulu in January 1967 when husband John became Regional Manager for Sears in the State of Hawaii. She served as first lady for Sears Roebuck in the Aloha State until 1984, hosting many functions at her residence in Waialae Iki for Sears's employees, dignitaries and non-profit affiliated groups. She was an avid tennis, golf and bridge player. Following her husband's retirement in 1984, they traveled the globe visiting 25 different countries. Aileen continued to teach reading to children and non-English speakers throughout her life and was most proud of her work with children at Waialae School in East Honolulu, as part of the Fellows Senior Volunteer program. She served in various officer positions in Honolulu for the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international women's organization of 250,000 members providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide and at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. Her other memberships included Job's Daughters, Central Union Church, the Assistance League of Honolulu, Waialae Country Club, and the Outrigger Canoe Club. Aileen resided at Kahala Nui Retirement Community since 2010 with husband John. Where condolences may be sent. Funeral services on Tuesday October 7th at Diamond Head Memorial Chapel on 18th Avenue: visitation 5 PM, service 5:30PM. Casual attire. In lieu of flowers, donations in Aileen's honor may be made online to PEO Foundation's "Hawaii Reciprocity Cottey College Scholarship Fund" at https://donations.peointernational.org/peo-donation-foundation or checks can be mailed to: P.E.O. Executive Office Treasurer's Dept. 3700 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50312 Online donation form for mailing : https://donations.peointernational.org/sites/default/files/content/web-donation-form.pdf
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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