Eleanor ""Nan"" Hudson

Eleanor Nan Hudson, 87, of Denver, died Thursday, September 11, at her home, after a long battle with dementia. Nan was born June 2, 1927, to John and Helen Fiftal, in Waterbury, Conn. She attended nursing school at Roosevelt School of Nursing in New York City. After graduation, she moved to Colorado. Her plan was to work her way west, and ultimately move to Hawaii. Instead, she got a nursing job at Colorado General Hospital, where she met her future husband, Merrill Hudson, who was working as an orderly while he saved money to move to California. They were married on September 8, 1951, and instead of moving, chose to settle in Denver. Nan also worked at Children's Hospital, before leaving nursing to raise her three children. Above all, Nan was a talented artist, specializing in watercolor and acrylic paintings. Her work was displayed at numerous art shows in the area, and she was active in the Depot Art Center in Littleton, Colo. In addition to her painting, Nan was an avid gardener — she created and tended a beautiful yard filled with colorful perennials and had a massive vegetable garden. Nan was also a fabulous cook – her spaghetti sauce was the best in town. Nan loved to travel and reveled in the outdoors. She climbed many Rocky Mountain peaks, downhill skied into her 70s, and was a member of a weekly hiking and cross-country skiing group. She was also active in the League of Women Voters. Survivors include Merrill, her loving husband of 63 years; sons John Hudson (wife Patty) of Sussex, WI, and Arthur Hudson (wife Sherrill) of Westminster, CO; daughter, Amy Hudson (husband Scott Deming) of Denver; and seven grandchildren: Chris Hudson, Angela Hudson, Bryan Hudson, Nicole Hudson, Cooper Deming, Helen Deming, and Calvin Deming. A memorial reception is scheduled for 11 a.m., Friday, September 19, at Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80227. Please share your memories of Nan and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below…