Our loved mother and grandmother, Francis Edith Montrone, 84, of West Jordan, Utah, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2015.She was born February 12, 1931 to Frank Smith and Vera May Johnson Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the third of four daughters. She grew up in Salt Lake City and attended South High School.She met and married the love of her life, Paul Montrone on November 20, 1948 in Elko, Nevada after he returned home from serving in the army in World War II. They lovingly raised their 3 children; LeeAnn, Kathy, and Joey.Paul and Edith had a deep love that they enjoyed for 50 years and were lucky enough to celebrate their Golden Wedding in November 1998 before Paul passed away on March 20th of 1999.
Edith also worked for years as a Licensed Abstractor with McGee Title and later Utah Title. She was an excellent cook and always had plenty to share with whoever stopped in. She and Paul were hired on as the cooks (using Edith's great cooking skills) for Tracy Collins Bank's Tracy Club in Yellowstone Park each summer for 2 years. Their family enjoyed many camping and boating outings over the years and all loved to waterski. She had a great love for all animals and enjoyed having them around her.She was very generous and kind to those less fortunate throughout her life as she followed the Lord's example. She was passionate about her opportunities to serve family, friends, neighbors and others in Marriage Encounter, Neighborhood Watch, and the Good Sam's Camping Club where they enjoyed going in their motorhome with many friends. She had a talent for flower arrangements, upholstering, and crocheting as she made many beautiful items to share. After Paul passed, her greatest joy was spending time each day tending her beautiful yard as it made her feel closer to him.
Edith spent the last three years of her life suffering from Alzheimer's and lived at Copper Ridge Care Center. They gave her such good and gentle care and told us many times of the love and kindness she showed to them and all the patients there. She was always trying to help in some way and give of herself even if at the end it was only a wink, smile or kiss.
Edith is survived by her children: LeeAnn of Robbinsdale, MN; Kathleen (Thomas) Fonio of Champlin, MN; and Joey (Kim) Montrone of St. George, UT; 5 grandchildren ‚ Katina (Luke) Frolek of St. Paul, MN; Angelina (Jonathon) Aller of St. Louis Park, MN; Antoinetta (Mathew) soon-to-be Canada of Chicago, IL; Kara (Matthew) Heaton of St. George, UT; Chad of San Jose, CA; 5 great-grandchildren ‚ Finnley and Leif Frolek; Zane, Giana and Everett Heaton.
Our family wants to thank all family and friends who have blessed her life and ours. A special "thank you" we also give to the kind and loving care givers at Copper Ridge that made her last three years the best possible. You are all "special angels" as she would say.
Services will be held Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 So., Sandy, Utah. A gathering of family and friends will be on Friday, March 27, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., also on Saturday from 1:00 to 1:45 pm. before her funeral, also at Larkin Sunset Gardens. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Humane Society of Utah would make Edith smile.
