Carmela Segal Nielsen

Carmela Segal Nielsen, our beloved mother, grandma (savta), family member, and friend passed away peacefully Saturday, February 4th, after a long and brave battle with cancer. She was a fighter who never wanted to be defined by this illness and simply wanted what we all wanted for her, more time.This amazing woman was a true force of nature -- the product of a rich cultural heritage. Born in Romania to parents who were part of the early Zionist movement and already living in Palestine, the family returned to their new homeland shortly after her birth. Carmela was raised in Herzliya, where she and her family were able to participate in the birth of the State of Israel. At age 18, Carmela joined the military, completed her basic training and then studied to become a physical therapist. After graduating, Carmela served her country as a military physical therapist for two years. At 23, Carmela came to Chicago for a one-year practicum where she met a dental school student named Kenneth Nielsen, whom she later married before moving to Salt Lake City, where they started a family and called home for fifty years. Carmela practiced physical therapy for over five decades, with most of her time spent at Salt Lake Regional Outpatient Rehab (Holy Cross), where she helped thousands of people return to health and mobility. She specialized in orthopedics, sports and dance injury rehab and helped many women in their rehabilitation after breast cancer surgery. A devoted fan of dance, Carmela served the dance communities of Ballet West, Ririe-Woodbury, RDT and the University of Utah, and was Ballet West's physical therapist for years. Her service continued even after her retirement when she continued to treat dancers and work on events for the ballet. She was loved and respected by so many dancers and staff members, and counted many as her friends. Carmela was active in the Jewish community of Salt Lake. She organized many events including the Israeli Independence Day Festival. She was also an active participant in the Middle East Center of the University of Utah, where she received a master's degree in linguistics and taught Hebrew. Likewise, Carmela has been a center of her large, extended family and for years has hosted numerous holiday and summer parties. She has also remained in close contact with her global family of relatives and friends in California, Israel and Europe. Two of her greatest comforts and joys in later life were Milo Kenneth Nielsen, her only grandchild, and her beloved dog Melba. Carmela Nielsen was a powerful, radiant and beautiful breath of fresh air, and her death has left a void. While we are happy she is no longer suffering, we will never forget her strength of character, tenacity, vibrancy, and above all her love of life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Nielsen, and her parents, Avhram and Sylvie Segal. She is survived by her children: Dahlia Nielsen of Raleigh, North Carolina and Erik Nielsen (Annette) of Salt Lake City. Funeral Services will be held at Evans and Early Mortuary located at 574 East 100 South, Salt Lake City on Wednesday, February 9th at 12 noon. Well-wishers can also call on the family at the mortuary on the evening of Tuesday, February 8th, 6-8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers Carmela requested donations be made in her name to Ballet West.