Annie loved life so much. She enjoyed it with her sisters and friends; she was best friends with her whole class. She got along with everybody and loved them so much. Sometimes, she would cry because of how much she loved her friends. She loved to fish and catch crawfish with her sisters.
She just loved to be out living her life. She was a definite animal lover and loved all kinds of animals. She worked as a barista at the local rock stop here in town, and she could tell you every type of rock, fossil, and mineral that was inside that shop. She had plans to go to UVU in the fall of ‘23 with her best friend.
She gave so much love and shined so much light to those around her. Even for those who didn’t know her, it’s clear that she was loving and inviting; her smile just lit up the room. She would always tell you how proud she was of how you were doing. She wanted to let everyone know they were loved and that they were never alone.
Analise Marie Nielsen received her wings June 3, 2023. Early that morning, Analise was driving home from her boyfriend’s house in St. George, Utah. I had asked her to be home for work in the morning. Around 1:13 a.m., Analise texted me saying she had made it
to the Sands turn off, a local road we use to travel back and forth from Hwy 89 to St. George. I responded right back knowing where she texted from. It was about an hour and a half to get home.
Although we will never really know what actually happened early that morning, Analise went off the road and overcorrected the vehicle, which resulted in her rolling and being ejected from her car. While trying to reach Analise, knowing she should have been home by then, I received a call from the sheriff’s office stating they had found our car but no one was in it. I told them my daughter was driving.
Analise’s accident was 15 minutes away. I rushed to the scene. I was second on site. Upon my arrival I saw my daughter’s car and pulled off the road to run to it. The officer on
site then grabbed me and said she did not make it. Those words, which no parent wants to hear, crushed every part of me. The officer held me tight in his arms, as there was nothing more he could do but hold me.
The pain of losing a child is so unbearable, and the pain of her sisters losing a sibling has been so crushing to them. The loss of Analise has forever changed our lives. If we could leave any message for anyone, it would be this: Please buckle up, slow down, and think of your safety and the safety of others. If you are tired, pull over. Don’t let anything rush how you drive. Let people pass. Always hug and say “I love you.” Our lives are so precious; your family waits for you to come home safely. We will forever miss you, Annie.
