Emma Leora Poppleton Marcheschi passed away on Friday, February 2, 2018 at Silverado Aspen Park Memory Care and Rehabilitation Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born in Wellsville, Utah on May 27, 1930, to Joseph Washington Mitton Poppleton and Flora Christena Squires.
Leora spent her childhood in Wellsville and loved her large immediate and extended family. She cherished her memories and spoke often of her simple childhood and the love she felt in her family. She learned important life lessons while helping her parents on the family farm, taking care of the animals and harvesting sugar beets. She also made lifelong friends with whom she had many memorable experiences.
She graduated from South Cache High School in 1947 and attended Utah State University. She moved to Chicago, IL in 1949 where she worked for the telephone company. It was there that she married her sweetheart, Henry Marcheschi, on October 4, 1953.
She and "Hank" resided in Pasadena, CA for several decades where they raised their five children, supported each other in several successful business ventures and served faithfully in their church and community. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different callings in the Pasadena Stake and the East Pasadena and Pasadena II Wards. She especially enjoyed serving as a Young Women President and in the Lambda Delta Sigma LDS sorority. She also loved singing in the ward choir with her beautiful alto voice. She was a stalwart example of faith and obedience to her children and husband. Henry joined the Church and their marriage was later solemnized in the Los Angeles, California LDS Temple on April 21, 1973. When Henry was called as the Bishop of the Pasadena III Single Adult Ward, Leora served faithfully by his side.
After Henry's passing in 1987, Leora moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to her children and relatives. She lived in the Monument Park Stake and quickly became an integral part of her ward. She loved the members of her ward and often attended youth sporting events, Boy Scout Courts of Honor and seemed to have an endless supply of gum for the children on Sundays.
Leora was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who prized her family above all else. She was a "Homemaker" in the truest sense of the word and created a loving and nurturing environment for her family. Each of her posterity felt of her "Special Love", as she supported them in all their various interests and activities.
Leora had a refined manner and enjoyed order and making her and others' surroundings more beautiful. She also enjoyed traveling and the opportunities she had to see much of the world. She was also an avid sports fan.
She loved people and made friends with everyone she met. She had a special talent for reaching out to people and helping them feel loved and appreciated. She especially loved young people and firmly believed in their innate worth and in providing the environment and opportunities for them to succeed. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, serving on numerous boards and committees. She also served as a board member of California/Utah Women and Ettie Lee Youth and Family Services. In addition, she served on various committees for the National Advisory Council at the BYU Marriott School of Management where her husband had also served for many years.
Leora had an unwavering faith in and love for her Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel. She was a true disciple and shared her beliefs freely in word and deed.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and six siblings, Valene, Allan, Stennett, Russell, Reese, and Cleone.
She is survived by her children: Thomas (Cyndi) Marcheschi (Ogden), Debra (Allen) Simonsen (North Salt Lake), Lisa (Gordon) Monson (Salt Lake City), Michael (Melanie) Marcheschi (Bountiful), and Christian (Monica) Marcheschi (Woodland, CA). She leaves 28 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 10th at 11:00 a.m. at the Monument Park Ward chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1005 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. The family will receive friends Friday, February 9th, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the chapel.
Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The family would like to thank all those who loved and cared for Leora over the years, including Dr. Christian Romney and the talented and capable staff at Parklane Senior Living and Silverado Aspen Park Memory Care and Rehabilitation Center.
Leora requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - General Missionary Fund.
