Sara Hurtado Nelson, age 100 of Valparaiso, Our beautiful loving Mother left us peacefully and quietly during the night of May 6, 2023. Sara was born December 18, 1922 to Luis and Helen Hurtado in San Antonio, Texas. The family moved and settled in Gary, Indiana. Sara graduated with Valedictorian honors from Froebel High School. After high school she worked at the Sheet and Tin Mill, in Gary, Indiana, saving for her college education at the State University of Iowa where she again graduated with honors - Phi Beta Kappa. Sara married Gilbert Nelson, the love of her life, after college.
Sara loved learning as much as she loved teaching. She earned her master’s degree at the University of Chicago while teaching full time at Horace Mann High School, where she continued to teach until age 72. After retirement Sara continued to teach classes at Indiana and Valparaiso University until she was 78.
Sara loved reading, cooking, gardening, and playing Bridge. She loved to travel. She studied at the University of Salamanca, and visited Hawaii, Egypt, Israel, Spain, Mexico, Great Britain and Japan.
Sara loved her children Cynthia (Randy) Drummond, sons Tony (Becky), Robert, Jeremy (Debra), and Charles. As well as her 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at a future date at Calumet Park Cemetery.
