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Portrait of Avery Joseph Nelson
In loving memory of

Avery Joseph Nelson

November 20, 2000 – December 25, 2023
Lived 23 years
Norfolk, CT
Life story

With immense sadness, we announce the passing of Avery Joseph Nelson, age 23, our son, brother, and friend. Avery passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Day.

Avery was born as the fourth child to Joel and Victoria “Vicki” Nelson and grew up surrounded by their love and the joy of three siblings – Westley, Gabriell “Gabby,” and Marcela “Marci.” The four kids spent many hours playing together in the forest behind their Norfolk home, at Tobey Pond, and at the beach in New Jersey surrounded by cousins and extended family.

Avery lived and passed surrounded by so much love. Beyond his immediate family, he is loved and adored by his extended family in New Jersey and Connecticut, friends from Northwestern Regional High School, new friends made in the past year at his job at Stadium System, and by the King family of Winsted, with whom he spent many happy days and nights.

We remember Avery first and foremost for his kind heart and gentle soul. When Avery looked at you or gave you a hug, you felt the depth of his love immediately. He was never embarrassed to voice his love or show affection. He was all in. Avery loved his family, he loved his friends like they were family, and most of all, he loved his mom. The bond they shared was a gift to witness.

He had a skill for building things and taking things apart, which he used in his younger years for Legos and in his older years to build and fix computers. Ever since he was a little boy, he could figure it out intuitively. In the rare instances he didn’t know how to work on something, he would study it until got it.

Avery is predeceased by his grandparents, Elizabeth and Joseph Muni; his grandfather, Joel Edmund Nelson, Sr.; his cousin, Kyle Muckle; his aunt, Joann Varner (Art); and his uncle, Fredrick Paul Bender, II. He is survived by his parents, Joel and Victoria Nelson; his siblings, Westley, Gabriell, and Marcela (Nathan); his grandmother, Alice Nelson; aunts and uncles Tina Nelson, Lisa Nelson, Erik Nelson, Mary Bender, Kim Casto (Joe), Jamie Muni (Diane), Joseph Muni (Barbara), and Stephen Muni (Sue); and many, many cousins.

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Lifetime

The world Avery knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

2000
Born November 20
2006
Avery was 6 when Twitter was launched
2007
Avery was 7 when the first iPhone went on sale
2010
Avery was 10 when Apple's iPad went on sale
2015
Avery was 15 when "Hamilton" opened on Broadway
2022
Avery was 22 when Queen Elizabeth II died after 70 years on the throne
2023
Anniversary of Avery and Alyssa (first date)
2023
Star Wars trivia night
2023
vacation with friend Puerto Rico
2023
Passed away December 25, age 23
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