Stephanie Melinda Chytraus Pond-our loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend-passed away at Riverton Hospital on July 29, 2014 due to complications of surgery. She was surrounded by her family who loved her very much.
Stephanie was born November 12, 1970 in Murray, Utah to Clark and Jolene Chytraus. She attended Hillcrest High School, graduated in 1989, and then pursued and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Utah State University. Stephanie later went on to complete her Nursing degree. While attending USU, she met her husband AndrewPond. Stephanie and Andrew were married on December 21, 1994 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their 17 years together were filled with love for each other and their five children.
Stephanie was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She faithfully served a full-time mission in Honduras and Guatemala, and has served the Lord in many other callings and ways throughout her life.
Stephanie began her 18-year nursing career at the University of Utah Hospital and was an asset to her Labor and Delivery team with her bilingual skills and her remarkably fun, outgoing, and empathetic personality. She later became a Head Charge Nurse of Labor and Delivery. She was gifted with many talents, and she had a wonderful personality that would put her patients at ease. She was fun-loving and kind. She cared deeply for her patients and their families. Stephanie saved many lives, helped bring countless babies into the world, and touched the lives of thousands.
Stephanie loved holiday festivities, and she loved to plan parties-a trait she inherited from her father Clark. She was constantly coming up with new ways to celebrate holidays and birthdays. She wanted to make sure every moment in our lives was special and one to never forget. She was the party animal of the family, bringing fun and enjoyment into our lives. Her favorite holidays were Christmas and Halloween. She would begin planning the next year\s Christmas on Dec. 26th, and she was so excited for her favorite holidays to arrive that she would begin listening to Christmas music in May. She passed her fun-loving, fanatic holiday traditions onto her daughters, involving them in all of her fun festivities.
Stephanie had a special bond with her children, as well as being a significant role model to them. She will be remembered by her children as the hardest-working, most devoted and most loving mother.
She was the mother to Sadie (18), Sherstin (14), Adam (12), Addie (12), and Ava (7); a sister to Debbie, Rachael (Brett), and Bart; and a wonderful aunt and friend of many.
Because of Stephanie and the moments she created, we have many cherished memories filled with fun and love to remember her by. She will forever be loved, and will always be in our hearts.
Charitable contributions to help Stephanie\s young family can be made by visiting any Chase Bank.
The funeral service will be held on Monday August 4th at 11:00 am at the Herriman South Stake on 14550 South Juniper Crest Road in Herriman. A viewing will be held on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Larkin Mortuary on 12600 south 3688 west in Riverton, as well as Monday morning from 9-10:30 am at the Herriman South Stake Center prior to the funeral service. Interment will be conducted at Mountain View Memorial Estates on 3115 East 7800 South in Cottonwood Heights.
