Moultonborough-----Elena Kerstin Nilson, 25, died at home in Moultonborough June 9, 2007 of cancer.  She was the daughter of Kenneth and Cathrine Nilson. 

Elena was born in Wilmington, DE and lived most of her early childhood in New London, PA before moving with her family to Moultonborough, NH.  As a child she enjoyed playing Little League baseball and taking dance and piano lessons.  She continued playing the piano when the family moved to New Hampshire and also enjoyed swimming and boating with her family.  Elena was a 2000 graduate of Moultonborough Academy where she participated in the chorus, softball and tennis.  After high school Elena attended the University of Massachusetts and Greenfield Community College to study nursing.  During the years she was not in school she was employed by North Hampton Cooperative Bank and most recently, Citizen’s Bank in Boston, while residing in Chestnut Hill, MA.  As a young woman Elena continued to enjoy playing the piano, pursuing decorative arts and quilting and most passionately, being with family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Elena is survived her sisters, Maria Nilson, Annika Nilsson Ripps, her brother-in-law Noah Harrison Ripps and their children Linnea and Solomon Ripps, grandparents Gunnel Mattsson, Clara and George “Ted” Nilson and loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.  She is predeceased by her grandfather, Arne Mattsson

A service to celebrate Elena’s life will be held at the Moultonborough United Methodist Church in the morning of Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 9:30am.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Sarcoma Research Fund “in memory of Elena Nilson”, Attention: Karen Sveda, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Division of Development and the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, New Hampshire is in charge of the arrangements.