Carma Dean Fellows Toronto

Carma Dean Fellows Toronto, a woman of fierce love, unyielding faith and a common-sense approach to life, passed away at the age of 91 on December 19, 2023, in Salt Lake City, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, resilience, and devotion to God and family.

Carma was born in Salt Lake City - at her home - on September 29, 1932, to Wilhelmina Hendrika Stamm and Wilford Jay Fellows. She and her older siblings Jay and Betty grew up in the Nibley Park area of Salt Lake City.

Despite a difficult childhood, Carma always found refuge in music, art, books and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a tremendous love for learning and graduated from South High at 16, before attending the University of Utah and later marrying a handsome Air Force officer and doctor, Alan Felt Toronto.

Married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 10, 1951, they raised seven children—Russell, Jayne, Steven, Thomas, Elaine, Carolyn, and Sharon. Mom’s devotion to her family was unparalleled. Even with the chaos that accompanies a house full of kids, her home was a sanctuary of warmth and order. She was incredibly busy as a mother but always found time for her self-education through constant reading. As children returning home from school, we often found her waiting for us, sitting at the kitchen table with a tall glass of Dr Pepper, reading a thick historical novel. Her accessibility made it natural to gather around that table and share our tales of the day. She reveled in motherhood and was always available for a pep talk or vent session.

As children, we appreciated her pragmatic hands-off approach to child-raising. “Teach them sound principles and they will govern themselves” was her mantra, together with a perfected stern look that worked disciplinary miracles. She trusted us and expected us to be good people and do the right thing. Beyond that, she granted us the freedom to walk our own paths. She was our greatest fan, coach, therapist, chauffeur, cook, maid, mentor, and mom.

Mom spoke intelligently with conviction and confidence in public, and was a ham at family parties: telling funny stories, tap dancing, and impersonating the Queen Mum, but in reality she was an unabashed introvert. Her favorite place was home with her family. Remarkably, her shyness did not stop her from accepting leadership roles in the Church and her community where she stood out as a beacon of wisdom and clarity. She was particularly skilled as a teacher, able to weave the gospel of Jesus Christ into real life, in a way that connected and motivated those she taught. She served willingly when called to be a member of the LDS Church Writing Committee, where she applied her love and aptitude for teaching as she helped create lessons for the Church’s Relief Society and Family Home Evening Manuals.

As her children grew older, Carma discovered new passions, including tennis, which she played competitively, and morning walks that fostered decades-long friendships with the women from the Tartan Avenue neighborhood. In 1992, she and Dad served a mission in the New York City Visitor’s Center. She spoke fondly of those times, being a support-mother to dozens of young missionaries.

Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ was not only a Sunday thing with Mom; it was an everyday, soul-deep part of her that she first cultivated as a young child. Mom often said she couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t believe in a loving Father in Heaven. That love was the foundation of her powerful testimony and example, which influenced her family and so many others.

In her later years, Carma found joy in splitting her time between Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah, and loved opportunities to nurture important relationships with her grandchildren. Again, her pragmatic no-nonsense mothering style extended to her grandchildren, who often thought of her as the "tough grandma." Yet, as time passed, these same grandchildren discovered that her directness truly reflected her deep and genuine love for each of them.

Carma is preceded in death by her husband Alan, siblings Jay and Betty, son Russell, and son-in law David Stokes (Jayne). She is survived by children Jayne (David) Stokes, Steve (Barbara), Tom, Elaine, Carolyn, Sharon (Michael) Sumner, daughter-in-law Paula, 29 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many neighbors and friends, all of whom she “adopted” into her big motherly circle.

Carma’s children are deeply grateful to the devoted staff, nurses and CNAs at Spring Gardens Holladay, for Mom’s excellent and compassionate care over the past year. They were her good friends during the most difficult part of her life.

A celebration of Carma's life will be held at Larkin Mortuary at 260 E. South Temple in Salt Lake City on Friday, December 29, at 11:00 AM. A visitation will be held prior, from 9:30-11:00 AM. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 S. in Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to your preferred charity or cause.

Services will be livestreamed via Zoom. To join the livestream, please click the "Watch Services" button above or click the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86986543682.