Funeral Details

Natalie Saltiel was the beloved daughter of Dorothy Maremont Saltiel and Henry Saltiel. A lifetime resident of the North Side of Chicago, she passed away peacefully, with me, her daughter by her side, on February 13th at my family’s home in San Francisco California. My mom was predeceased by her cherished and devoted husband Sidney Levin as well as by her parents, aunts and uncles, several close first cousins and most of her beloved lifetime sister friends. She is survived by me, Erica Saltiel Levin, my spouse Belmer (Negrillo) and by our children, Levi and Oceana. She touched many lives and in addition to family, leaves behind friends, professional associates and volunteer colleagues. My mom’s life was defined by determination, optimism, a love of learning, dedication to her ideals, commitment to her work and loyalty to the people that she loved. She was ahead of her time in her thinking on conservation of the natural world, women’s rights, human rights and equality, healthy food, exercise and so much more. She was a bold career woman, believing that women had the right and responsibility to contribute in the workplace. She cared deeply for the work that she did and maintained clients up to a few years ago. She was a trusted advisor to many. Growing up in an era that expected women to work solely in the home, my mom had different ideas and from a young age excelled academically and graduated with honors from Northwestern University. She boldly travelled the world alone, was the first female CPA hire at a well-regarded accounting firm and later started her own business. Marrying her devoted companion Sid and becoming a parent were the highlights of her life. The arts and travel played a big part in my parents’ life together. They especially enjoyed fall trips to London, discovering new places, Lyric opera, symphony and the Grant Park summer concert series. Tanque Verde Ranch trips with me in childhood and later as a grandma were special times. My mom adored Chicago and deeply enjoyed bike rides along the lake with my dad and accompanying him to the farmer’s markets that he loved. My mom volunteered and held board positions with the ACLU, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, JUF and, later in life, the WITS program. Her last volunteer work, halted by Covid, was tutoring reading in the classroom at Manierre elementary school. My mom never met a piece of chocolate or a vegetable that she didn’t love. She adored swimming outside in the summer, long conversations with friends, getting to know her friend’s kids- remembering every detail about their lives, getting to know my friends and their children, and taking a deep interest in basically the entire world around her. Politically and socially liberal, she would happily take up a conversation about ways in which people could be lifted up. She was deeply troubled by the erosion of women’s rights and the never-ending backslide regarding race relations in this country as well as by increasing anti-semitism. She believed wholeheartedly in Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Reared in an observant Jewish home, my mom had a deep regard for the history of our people and took great comfort in our religion and in being a part of the Jewish community. My mom adored her grandchildren, Levi and Oceana and had a lot of fun getting to know them and understanding their perspectives and viewpoints. She reached her goal of attending Levi’s bar mitzvah this past summer and standing next to him on the Bima, reciting prayers and fulfilling her obligation of l’dor v’dor, generation to generation. She will be remembered for being a vocal, spirited and dedicated crusader for liberal viewpoints, a hard worker and a loyal and true friend. We will miss her every day. May her memory be a blessing. The best way to honor her memory is by fostering your curiosity and explore something new, doing some volunteer work, visiting a museum, talking to the person on the plane sitting next to you and sharing stories, go to a place you didn’t initially think to go to, eat healthy organic food, send an email to an elected official, sign a petition, care about the animals and don’t forget to wear your sunhat. I am grateful for the loving care of the caregivers who were attentive and provided comfort to my mom but also to all of us in the last months of her life. They are indeed angels. The memorial service will be on Friday March the 10th at 12pm at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago followed immediately by internment at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. Following the burial, shiva will begin at 4250 North Marine Drive, hospitality room. Shiva will also be on Saturday and Sunday 2-5 at the same address apartment #2135. Questions please email erica@mindness.net. To attend the funeral live stream and for further information on contributions in lieu of flowers, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com