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Celesti Ann Nielsen, born January 23, 1980 in Logan, UT, passed away June 17, 2017 in Salt Lake City, UT after a difficult battle with complications from spinal meningitis. She was surrounded by family and many friends in her final days. She has returned to her Heavenly Father after her time on earth learning and growing. She was a faithful member of the LDS church. Finally freed from a body that had many limitations, she will now have the opportunity for a body that is perfect. Celesti attended many different schools in her elementary years, as the family lived in various parts of the country. She graduated from Alta High School in Sandy, UT, where she learned sign language. This skill was a gift during her final weeks of life. She lost her ability to speak verbally, but she could still sign competently and quickly. This allowed her needs and wishes to be known and was a blessing for her caregivers, family and friends.Celesti was loved dearly by all who knew her. She had such a sweet spirit that could light up a room. She was able to overcome many physical challenges in her life and defied predictions that “she wouldn’t make it to one year old”. We were so blessed to have her in our lives for 37 years. Celesti loved many things in her life; family was the most important. She knew many of her extended relatives and was always interested in learning more about them. She had great connections with the older family members and just couldn’t get enough time with the newest members of the family. She dearly loved holding new babies. She really enjoyed music and loved to perform. She participated in numerous musical and theatrical programs throughout her school years and with her Special Needs Mutual group. She also had a great love for the game of basketball. Her favorite teams were the Utah Jazz, Utah State Aggies and high school teams. She loved to watch the game and cheer on her teams. She participated in Special Olympics Basketball for many years on teams in Salt Lake and at Utah State. Celesti loved to travel and really enjoyed seeing new places.She is survived by her parents Linda Weller and Todd Nielsen (Patti), siblings Maria Nielsen, Andrea Taylor (Brian), Scott Moore (Ashley), Nathan Nielsen (April), Ryan Moore (Morgan) and Lindsey Nielsen, grandparents Bonnie Nielsen and Karl Peterson (Karen), as well as many nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins. She was preceded in death by grandfather Reece D. Nielsen, grandmother Jean Brown Peterson and nephew Houston Todd Nielsen.The family would like to thank the Nurses and Doctors who provided special care for Celesti at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray and the loving tender care received at The Lodge by Valeo hospice facility in Millcreek prior to her passing. We also want to thank Celesti’s great friend, Jennifer Poore from Redding, CA for her gift of friendship and compassion to Celesti in their 27 year friendship. A special thanks to Anna for her support and help with Celesti in the last three years. Funeral services will be held at the Ballard Creek Ward in Logan, Utah (340 West 700 South) on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11 am. Interment to follow the funeral services at the Hyrum, Utah cemetery. Viewing will be held prior to the funeral services on June 24 from 9:00 – 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be given to the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Donations may be made online or by mail.https://give.intermountainfoundation.org/primary-childrens-hospital (Under the tribute section at the bottom of the online form, note “in memory of Celesti Nielsen”)OR…mail to:Primary Children’s Hospital FoundationPO Box 58249Salt Lake City, Utah 84158(write “In memory of Celesti Nielsen” in the memo line)

Tributes

Celesti Ann Nielsen

January 23, 1980 - June 17, 2017