Freitag Files: My Mother

My mother passed away last month on June 23, 2010. She was a wonderful person and a great guide in my life. She was always the encouragement we needed as kids to keep going with school projects and any other adventure we were trying. Her testimony of the gospel is where I got the start of my testimony. She had a great love of reading, which I have now inherited. I will greatly miss her.

Mom had a stroke a few days before she passed that was massive. We were told that this was so bad that they could not do anything for her. I was able to arrive the day before she left this earth. She was still alert when we talked to her. I am so glad that I got to spend that day with her and my Dad. Dad has taken such loving care of Mom. I am very proud of him for all the work that he did on her behalf. I know it was not easy for him to do.

As the funeral arrangements were made, family started to arrive. All 8 of us children were there and many of the grand and great grand children were there to celebrate her life. As sad as an occasion as it was, it was a joyful reunion on both sides. I am sure that Mom was greeted by her parents and brothers and sisters. I know Aunt Velma had to be there waiting with open arms. But here we were able to visit with each other and share our families with each other. It was great to see my nieces and nephews, and also many cousins.

Here is the obituary from the newspaper with pictures at the end:

Elva I. Rookhuyzen
January 11, 1924 - June 23, 2010

ROY – Elva Irene Furgeson Rookhuyzen passed away on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at home in Roy, Utah in the company of her loved ones. She died of natural causes following several strokes. Elva was born on January 11, 1924 in Ogden, Utah, to John Henry and Grace Cragun Furgeson. As a youth, she practiced swimming. She was a cheerleader at Ogden High School. Elva graduated from Ogden High School on May 28, 1942.

She married Sidney Chandler Rookhuyzen on March 17, 1943 in Ogden, UT. Their marriage was solemnized in the Los Angeles LDS Temple on May 25, 1968.

Elva worked in the Ogden Arsenal Primer Department during the war. Elva also worked for Union Pacific Laundry. The family moved to Long Beach, CA, then to Lakewood and later to Lompoc, CA where they lived for 30 years. During their time in Lompoc she worked alongside her husband in their dry cleaning business. Elva and Sid returned to Ogden after a short stay in Las Vegas.

Elva was the mother of eight children, grandmother to 42 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. Elva was an avid reader and loved learning. She completed many Institute, College and television courses on a wide variety of subjects. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her favorite callings were serving in the Cub Scout program, primary Ward & Stake Relief Society Presidencies. Elva had many hobbies and was always busy with Family History, crocheting, and several other kinds of crafts.

She is survived by her husband, Sidney Chandler Rookhuyzen, Roy, UT; eight children, Eileen (Jeff) Rose, Cypress, CA; Lawrence (Kay) Rookhuyzen, Corona, CA; Marilyn (David) Prina, Provo, UT; Mark (Shawn) Rookhuyzen, LasVegas, NV; Paul (Karen) Rookhuyzen, Mesa, AZ; Nancy (Michael) Freitag, Las Vegas, NV; David (Amy) Rookhuyzen, Lompoc, CA; Karen (Alberto) Duenas, Bountiful, UT.

Elva was preceded in death by her parents and brothers and sisters, except her youngest sister, Darleen Spiers.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the Monte Vista Ward Chapel, 3845 South 2000 West, Roy, UT.

Friends may call at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday at the Ward Chapel from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd