Sally Hafen Tielemans

Sally Hafen Tielemans, 71, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her beloved family on August 12, 2024. In June during the family's annual California beach vacation she was feeling unusually fatigued and within days after returning home she was diagnosed with stage-four liver cancer. We lost her just 7 weeks later.Sally was born June 21, 1953 in East St. Louis, Illinois, the second of four daughters, to Banard Hafen and McVoy Holt Hafen. While in junior high school her father, an agent in the FBI, was transferred to Las Vegas, Nevada, which was as close as the family could get to southern Utah where her grandparents and extended family lived. Graduating from Las Vegas High School in 1971, she attended Dixie Junior College in 1971-1973 where she was a friend to all and known as "Silly Sally" because of her quick wit and sense of humor. She went on to BYU Nursing School and graduated as a registered nurse in 1975. A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served a mission in Venezuela from 1976-1978. Sally loved to travel and experience the people and cultures of the world. In 1980 she became a traveling nurse, living in Texas, Hawaii and then to Germany for a year where she took great advantage of her location and explored many countries.In 1982, while visiting Israel, this adventurous girl met a young man from Canada named Anton Tielemans at a hostel in Tel Aviv. Although they returned to their respective countries, they remained in close contact over the next year. During this time Sally introduced Anton to the missionaries and he was baptized soon after. They were married January 14, 1984 and sealed one year later in the St. George, Utah Temple. Sally and Anton have three children: Sam, Carrie and Luke. They raised their family in Las Vegas and are the beloved grandparents to nine grandchildren. Sally was the most loving, generous, thoughtful, nurturing mother and grandmother, always taking time to be with them and making each feel like they were her favorite. As children, she took Sam, Carrie and Luke on travel adventures: exploring the Aztec ruins of Guatamala, volunteer work in Honduras, taking books and art supplies to libraries in Mexico, the beaches of Costa Rica and historical sites across the country to name a few. Anton would occasionally join them only when the primary source of transportation was more than a chicken bus!Every other Sunday, Sally hosted family dinner with all her children and grandchildren. They would eat, visit, play games and just revel in the spirit of love that always surrounded them. Her grandchildren meant the world to her. She would give each grandchild a special ornament every Christmas, organize Easter egg hunts and Halloween events, dedicating one-on-one time with each. At their last beach vacation, she hid trinkets in a pirate's box and told her grandchildren to follow the map and find the buried treasure.As well as serving her family, she was an active member of the Church. Her favorite callings were teaching in Relief Society and Sunday School-teaching is what she loved to do. She served in many callings including Primary President, Young Women President.Sally felt nursing was more than a job, but a calling. It was a means to express her unwavering love and kindness to all she cared for. Words fail to express how special Sally was: Heaven has another angel. Sally is survived by her husband Anton, son Sam (Jordan) and children Quinn and Schyler; daughter Carrie Giles (Jeff) and children Berkley, Ben and Reagan; son Luke (Rachel) and children Hazel, Ivy, Levi and Cal. Three sisters, Susan, Laurie and Elaine.Burial at the Holt Family Cemetery where she will rest alongside her parents, grand parents, and pioneer great and great great grandparents.

Sally Hafen Tielemans

June 21, 1953 - August 12, 2024