West Jordan, UT — Our mother, Patricia Farnsworth Heller (88) passed away peacefully at home, early Wednesday morning, February 7, 2024, from complications of congestive heart failure. She had been on hospice for just over a year.
Pat was born on January 15, 1936, at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Kenneth Charles Farnsworth and Mildred Lora Brown. Pat was an only child until she turned nine when she, finally, got the brother she had prayed for: Kenneth Charles Jr., then sister, Linda Joyce, and another brother, William Brown.
Pat met her first three best friends, Jan, Pat, and Alice, in Kindergarten (friends still to this day). They attended Whittier Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated South High School in 1954. Pat attended Brigham Young University for a period of time while working before deciding she wanted to travel the world.
Pat applied at Hill Air Force Base for a secretarial job, she was offered a job on an AFB in France. While there she met and married Richard Heller in 1958 (later divorced), and in 1959 gave birth to her daughter, Cindy. They moved to Granger (now West Valley City), UT where her son, David, arrived in 1962.
Pat worked at a few jobs before she started at United Airlines doing “teletype” for several years during which her desire to travel increased, especially after taking her daddy around the world in 1971.
The family moved to Petaluma, CA for six months when Richard reenlisted into the Air Force, then transferred to Randolph AFB, in Universal City, TX where Pat worked on the base. In 1975, we were transferred to High Wycombe AFB, outside of London, England. In 1977 we move to Thetford, near the Lakenheath AFB and Mildenhall AFB.
While working for the Base Commander, Pat met her “soul sister”, Donna, who had so many things in common including the love of travel. (They made plans to travel together in the future, but that was cut short when Donna passed away in 2004, far too soon!)
Pat moved to Goldsboro, NC to be with Richard and David for a time before deciding to accept a job as the Wing Commander’s Secretary at Kunsan AFB, in South Korea. She loved that job and both of the Commanders that she worked with. Then the United States Foreign Service called to ask if she was still interested in joining the Foreign Service…she said YES! Pat came to Salt Lake to visit before going to Washington D.C. for training and on to her first assignment. While here, the State Department notified Pat that her first assignment was to be…PARIS!…yes, the one in France! Such excitement! Pat spent three glorious years in Paris! before moving on to her next post in Kuwait.
Kuwait was a lovely place until Iraq attacked, she was ordered to grab her “Go Bag” and get to the Embassy immediately. Pat said it felt like a dream trying to get there while running in sand and dragging her suitcase. She heard the nearby gunfire, saw the tanks, and with her heart racing in fear, she made it to the Embassy gate. Pat was in a caravan from Kuwait to Baghdad that had an accident which sent a few people back to Kuwait to wait for a Medical Evacuation. She came back to Salt Lake City for a break before being assigned to New Zealand.
Pat loved being in New Zealand, it allowed her the opportunity to fly to Australia and to take a train trip across Australia. Then it was time to move on to Djibouti, which was considered a hardship post. During her employment there she started experiencing more PTSD (which started during the invasion) after a trip to Africa. Pat had always been complimented and awarded recognition during her career, but felt she had no options but to take early retirement and return to Utah in 1995.
Prior to Pat’s departure her home was burglarized and then a mother cat dropped off her two baby girls in front of Pat’s house. One passed away and Pat made arrangements for DjiDji (pronounced Gigi) to be brought to the states when she was cleared to travel. A couple of months later, Smokey was adopted from the Utah Humane Society, such wonderful cat children!!! In 2006, Pat’s mother and brother passed away, leaving her bereft. In 2007, DjiDji was diagnosed with her third bout of cancer, and Pat made the heartbreaking decision to let her cross the Rainbow Bridge. Pat was overwhelmed by the experience, deciding she needed a change of scenery and flew to NC to stay with David. She was there about a day and promptly got SHINGLES, she ended up in the hospital for a week. PAT’S PSA: Get your Shingles shot, Shingles hurts!!!
Pat made many friends during her life’s journey, many have passed away and many remain. She made many friends in the Utah Retired Foreign Service Group that meets once a month for lunch and was so sad when she could no longer get out of the house to attend.
Pat was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in the Relief Society as a teacher, worked with Compassionate Service and was a Temple worker for a many years.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, brother Ken, brother Bill, sister-in-law Katy Farnsworth, and sister-in-law Margaret Heller.
Pat is survived by her children, daughter Cindy, son David (she always said that she would relive her life over IF she got to have her children again), her sister Linda (Jerry) Stocking, her sister-in-law Lori Vuyk Farnsworth (Bill), brother/sister-in-law Dave & Cheryl Heller, brother-in-law Charles Heller, many loved nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews! She leaves behind Stormy to help comfort Cindy.
The family wishes to thank Quality Home Health and Hospice for their care during this past year. Special heartfelt thanks to Nurse Julie Jensen for her loving care of Pat (and Cindy), and Chaplain Heidi Jaeger for her soothing harp music that calmed Pat during times of distress! Thanks also to Brenda, Alexis, and Jaclyn!
We would also like to thank the West Jordan Fire Department for their kind emergency services (to an old lady) when needed prior to hospice! Also, much love and thanks to THE BEST NEIGHBOR EVER…Lane Draper!
There will be a viewing Friday, February 16, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The funeral will be Saturday, February 17, 2024 with a viewing from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm and service from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. All services are at the LDS Stake Center, 2901 West 9000 South in West Jordan.
Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.
To watch the recorded service, please click on the Watch Service button above.
The funeral arrangements are entrusted to Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108.
*Pat’s “Lady” status was arranged for her by her great-niece Samantha Farnsworth.
Cindy we are out of state, but wanted to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of sorrow. Your Mom will be missed by all of us.
