Joanne "Jody" M. Nielsen, 64, passed away Tuesday September 22, 2026 at Strong Memorial Hospital with her loving family by her side.
There will be no calling hours. There will be a celebration of life from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday October 10th at the South Seneca Sportsmen's Club, 6894 Yarnell Rd., Ovid, NY, 14521.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 10727, Rochester, NY 14610 or the South Seneca Sportsmen's Club, P.O. Box 26, Ovid, NY, 14521.
Jody was born July 21, 1962, in Waterloo, NY, the daughter of Richard P. and Lorena R. St. Germaine Wheeler. She was a 1980 graduate of Mynderse Academy and attended Cayuga Community College. Jody was a waitress for various Finger Lakes restaurants, and also employed at the Romulus Central School District in the cafeteria. She was a member of the MacDougall Sportsmen's Club.
Family was the heart of her world. She was deeply devoted to her husband, standing beside him through all of life's joys and challenges and sharing a love that was the foundation of their family. Her boys were her pride and joy, and she cherished every moment of watching them grow into the men they became. But becoming a grandmother brought a whole new kind of happiness to her life. Her grandchildren held a very special place in her heart, and she treasured every visit, every conversation, every milestone, and every memory they made together. She gave her family her time, her love, her strength, and her unwavering support. To those she loved, she was a constant source of comfort, encouragement, and unconditional love – a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a proud and cherished grandmother.
She is survived by her husband whom she married May 26, 1990 Jeffrey George Nielsen, Sr.; sons Michael R. Wheeler of Waterloo, NY, Jeffrey George (Rita) Nielsen, Jr. and Nicholas (Shannon) Nielsen, both of Seneca Falls, NY, and Daniel P. Nielsen of Geneva, NY; grandchildren Nicholas, Jr, Aubree, Alexander, Carter, Letti, and Cullen; step-grandchildren Mariah, Trista, Aiden, Mateo, and Amari; sisters Faith Schreier of Seneca Falls, Mary Jane (Luke) Smith of Melbourne, FL, Becky (Roger) Coyle of Ovid, NY, and Sharon Gough of NY; father-in-law Gary Nielsen of Ft. Pierce, FL; sister-in-law Lois White of Waterloo, NY; brothers-in-law Michael (Dana) Nielsen of Fayette, NY, Nathan (Jessica) Nielsen of Bloomfield, NY, and Adam (Kelly) Nielsen of Romulus, NY; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Remembering others from the community
Jody was predeceased by her parents; brother Frank White and sister Linda Wilson.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.