Martha Spitzer Nielsen

FUNERAL HOME

H.D Oliver Funeral Apartments, Inc. - Laskin Road Chapel

2002 Laskin Road

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Martha Nielsen Obituary

Martha Spitzer Nielsen, 78, died July 23, 2021 in Virginia Beach, Va. Born and raised in Harrisonburg, Virginia, she resided in Virginia Beach for over forty years. She was predeceased by her parents, Dr. P.C. Spitzer and Martha Mason Spitzer, and by her younger sister, Mary Jane S. Nash.Martha attended Longwood College and taught English at Kellam High School for nineteen years. After earning her master's degree in guidance and counseling at Old Dominion University, she became a guidance counselor at Bayside High School. Six years later, she transferred to Cox High School, where she was a counselor for eleven years until she retired. She had many happy and proud memories of the students and parents whom she taught and served.

After losing all of her immediate family, Martha was overjoyed to be welcomed as an addition to the Belda family. Now she had sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and cousins. What a happy and loving experience! She shared forty years with her life partner and best friend, Joanne Belda. Together they spent a life of enjoying skiing, golf, walking, cycling, many cruises and traveling the world. As kind as Martha was to all, she also received special kindness from Craig and Robyn, Nancy and Joe, Tilley and Katharine Ann, Tom and Kathy and special care-givers, Tabitha and Dawn.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at a later date at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Virginia Beach. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts, Laskin Road Chapel is handling arrangements.

The family would like to express our gratitude to Freda H. Gordon Hospice for their loving care of Martha and family. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Freda H. Gordon Hospice and Pallative Care of Tidewater.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Virginian-Pilot on Aug. 8, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Martha Nielsen

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11 Entries

Randy Rentner

August 27, 2021

Miss Nielsen was my 10th grade English teacher at Kellam back in 1977-78. She was a great teacher, both demanding and encouraging. I can trace my love of reading and words back to discussions we had in her class. Along with Mrs. Middleton and Miss Bryant, I had the three greatest English teachers at Kellam, and eventually majored in English! I am sorry we didn't have social media to keep in touch with teachers and friends so many years ago. I would have so enjoyed being in contact with Miss Nielsen, hearing her thoughts and opinions, and continuing to learn from her wisdom. She made a great impression on me and on so many of my fellow students over the years. I'm honored to think that I myself became an English teacher and counselor as well, although I could never equal her. I'm glad to read in her obituary of the happiness she found in life.

Sherry Singewald Kelly

August 22, 2021

What a great teacher she was and a good neighbor. As her student, I appreciated her and enjoyed her class. As a young adult friend and down-the-road-a-piece neighbor, I liked stopping by now and then to visit her. She made the world better.

Carol Inman

Planted Trees

Cathleen Schwartz

August 10, 2021

Ms Neilsen taught me at Kellam High in the mid 70's. She was an excellent teacher, and you could tell she loved what she did. She was open to diverse opinions about the books we were assigned to read, and encouraged lively debate. She was also not taking any guff from a student, and that shone through, too! Great memories if Ms. Neilsen at Kellam. I'm happy to hear that her personal life was filled with love and adventure!

Dave' Warren-Taylor

August 9, 2021

Miss Nielsen was, without a doubt, the best English teacher ever! She taught us all how to properly use a comma ;)! She will be missed.

Lehni Lebert

August 8, 2021

You were an inspiring teacher. One of the best I was privileged to have. I am glad you found happiness. Rest in peace and power.

Tracey Davenport

August 8, 2021

Ms Nielsen was one of my favorite teachers. She was a tough teacher but so kind and I learned so much!

Barbara Burke Jennings

August 8, 2021

I had Ms. Nielsen for sophomore English at Kellam High School (probably her second year of teaching). She was tough, but she wanted you to learn. Her encouragement and her reading list influenced me in becoming the avid reader I am today. My sympathy to her loved ones as they cope with her loss. Please know that she lives on in the hearts and minds of the many students whose lives she touched.

Karen Head

August 8, 2021

Martha was a kind and caring person. She will be missed!

Lisa Lloyd-Wright

August 8, 2021

I am very sad to hear of Ms. Nielsen´s passing. She truly was one of the best teachers I ever had. I loved her for her toughness because when I made an A in her class, I knew I had earned it. She was amazing and I will always be grateful that I could be one of her students. Rest In Peace. You will never be forgotten.

Joann Tillberg

August 8, 2021

Martha was always kind, pleasant and caring to all she encountered. I fondly remember teaching English with her at Kellam High School in the early seventies, and enjoyed the get-togethers she helped schedule for all of us after retirement. She will be missed.

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