Geraldine Fender Rogers' Obituary
Geraldine Fender Rogers
Geraldine Fender Rogers (born Geraldine Meral Fender), age 89, of Pleasant Grove, Utah, passed on to her heavenly home on April 4, 2016, on her birthday. She died of natural causes.
Geraldine was born on April 4, 1927 in Carbondale, Colorado to Veral Lyford Fender and Bertha Ella Laudenklos. After the untimely death of her mother, she was raised by grandparents Ira and Nettie Fender, as well as her aunt Rokie (Varoqua (Fender) Skufka). She had a sister, Myrlene Ruth (Fender) Morrow, and a step sister Jackie (Peterson) Witt. All these relatives precede her in death. She has a still living half brother, Veral Liford Fender.
She joined the LDS church in 1950 and served in the CentralStates mission (1953-4). Geraldine attended BYU. While on vacation to Hawaii, she met her future husband, Everett Lippincott Rogers. They were married on October 26, 1957 and later sealed for time and all eternity.
Geraldine was happiest when serving her family as a wife, mother and homemaker, and serving in her church. She was truly an angel.
Three children came to their family: Tiare Cynthia (Fullmer), Bruce Fender, and Linda Leilani (Breeden). Her posterity also includes 19 grandchildren and 8.5 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held11:00 am, Friday, April 8, 2016, at 2195 North 100 East Pleasant Grove, Utah, and a reception honoring Geraldine will be held the evening before from 7pm to 8:30pm at the same location. Internment is in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Premier Funeral Services has been entrusted with arrangements.
Life Sketch of Geraldine Rogers
Geraldine Meral Fender Rogers was born April 4, 1927 in Colorado. Like bookends to her life, she began and ended her days in the Rocky Mountains with Hawaii, New York, and California (states near the ocean) sandwiched in between. She lived a full and beautiful life culminating in fulfilling her birthday wish of leaving this life and entering the next on April 4, 2016. Both family and friends are witnesses of her extraordinary life and have been blessed by her example.
Her life was not filled with earthly accomplishments and things that mattered to man but she took a higher road and focused her accomplishments on things that mattered to God. She demonstrated many Christ like attributes by the way she lived her life. Her testimony of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ could be daily observed as she walked the walk and talked the talk of discipleship.
A dear family friend, Maureen Tracy captured many of her Christ like qualities when she wrote:
“As I remember the many sweet, selfless aspects of Gerry's life which serve as an example of Christian discipleship, all seem tied somehow to one small scriptural word: order. Remembering how she established "a house of order" (whether it was a basement apartment, motor home, or split level living space) I recall numerous settings that stand as testimony to this talent- her neat and tidy kitchen with well-organized shelves, cupboards and drawers; her daily routine, which began early and often stretched late (but never longer than her patience) and always included the important elements of prayer, personal devotion and dedicated gospel service; her lists- whether for grocery shopping, travel plans, daily menus, family history projects, etc- I picture rubber-banded reflections of forethought for nearly every endeavor. How many, many occasions were there with her bringing a favorite family recipe to share at our gatherings- lovingly planned and prepared in advance, served with a smile (and a humble apology if it wasn't quite up to expectations!) Everyone could always count on her birthday and holiday remembrances- thoughtfully written well ahead and presented right on time, every time. She almost magically appeared out of nowhere "ready to go," consistently a little ahead of the scheduled event, so as to be helpful to whomever needed a hand at the last minute. I believe some part of her well ordered life must have been related to the temple, where she spent so much time when she was able- where all things are done "in wisdom and in order." I remember watching her walk with a labored, uneven gait, holding the hand of some small child, steadying their steps. The peaceful, patient pace she practiced did not demand or order others, but shone light of a better way to those who hurried around her. How often her hard-working hands helped restore order to others' space. How well she knew that the secret to JOY (lasting happiness and inner peace) lies in putting Jesus first, others after, herself last. She often let herself be last. Yet in God's perfectly ordered plan "the last shall be first" and the servant of all "shall be made great." I believe the grand woman we call "Grandma" has played a much greater role in the play we call mortality than she could ever imagine, and that her lasting legacy will influence generations "waiting in the wings" as yet unborn.”
Geraldine was also a very courageous women and this was demonstrated in many areas of her life. Her daughter Tiare said the following about her:
“She had the courage to face challenges, the courage to embrace new opportunities and adventures, and the courage to meet all this earth life brought to her. I think of the scripture “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. I am sure her faith gave her this courage.
In her childhood especially, she struggled with the challenge of severe eczema. She did not turn fearful of doing or facing hard things in life as she might have. She chose to join the church, alone and without the support of her family. She embraced the teachings and doctrine and made them a part of her life, though others may not have understood. Many times through her life, she moved to somewhere new and embraced new challenges. Some of these early moves were choosing to serve a mission while her religion was so new, heading off alone to college at BYU, traveling to Hawaii to live and then following her husband to job transfers and moves through the years. It can be hard to leave all that is familiar and start over in a new place, but she always faced these opportunities courageously. She even took her children several times on long road trips when her husband couldn’t get away.
A simple example that shows that she was not afraid of a new adventure was when I heard somewhere that it was better to eat a big breakfast and small supper and suggested we try that as a family. She jumped right in with support and woke early for many years to make a dinner meal in the morning for breakfast. I would wake bleary eyed and staggering to get to Seminary on time and there she would be with a yummy plate of a meat, a grain or starch and a vegetable all ready for us to eat by about 5:45am. So you can imagine what time she woke! Then she made breakfast type foods like scrambled eggs and muffins for the evening meal. This is only one example that shows how independent she was and not concerned with sticking to what others have done in the past or what they will think of her if she does things a different way.
A big adventure she had was selling her home and most of her possessions and traveling with her husband in an RV for several years. She never talked about what she were giving up, only about the adventures she was having and the good things along the way. She really liked having less to clean! She definitely had the courage to embrace new adventures.
She has also had many physical challenges such as needing crutches to walk, wearing special shoes with a big heel lift on one shoe, and wearing plastic gloves to bed to heal cracked hands, to name a few. She faced all these challenges with courage. I can’t even count the number of times she had hip surgeries and when it came time for open heart surgery in her 80’s, she didn’t even flinch. “Yes, let’s do this” she said without any fear. And now as she faced the end of mortality, she continued to say – “Yes, let’s get on with it.” No fear or trepidation of the future, only courage. She has shown courage every step of the way. Her great faith in Heavenly Father’s plan and in her Savior has given her that courage which is an inspiration to me and all around her.”
Geraldine planted and nourished many of her Christ like attributes while growing up on a farm, going through the depression, and dealing with many health challenges. She learned the value of hard work and watched as her grandparents and other family members worked long days raising animals and growing a variety of produce. She was frugal and lived by the phrase "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". She continued living by this principle until the day she died. Whenever someone needed something, they would go ask her and magically it would appear from a tiny box or bag. She made many things from scratch and was very resourceful – including making her famous dinner rolls, whole wheat bread, and strawberry freezer jam, darning her sweaters, finding creative crafts for girls camp, and substituting ingredients in recipes when she didn’t have what was called for. Another example of her resourcefulness was when finding an olive tree in the front yard of her new homes, she learned how to brine green olives.
Her frugality often caused her to be creative in finding solutions to problems and situations. These creative characteristics were also strengthened as she developed her skills in painting, tinting photos, and cooking. Often when there was not a knife to cut an apple, she would twist the apple right in two with her bare hands and even crush cans with her hands. She was ”inhumanly” strong as one grandson put it. This is true not only of her physical strength but also of her spiritual strength and dedication.
Geraldine served in the Relief Society, Primary, the genealogical library and finally in the Mount Timpanogos Temple where she served faithfully and beautifully as an angel in white walking the halls of the Lord’s house.
Where ever lived, she loved making it her home. She made homemaking her career and did an excellent job teaching her children by her example. She was faithful in teaching her children the gospel through that example as well as through consistent family home evenings and family prayer.
She loved to be in the kitchen – that was her creative outlet and much of her time was spent there lovingly preparing meals for others. Making German soft pretzels for family night is a treasured memory by all her children and now her grandchildren. Her kitchen was not only a place to feed the body but was also a place where she fed the soul. Grandchildren would often go to Grandma’s kitchen to talk with her. They found it to be a safe place to talk and share. Many of them have commented about time they have spent with her talking and learning from her yet never feeling judged. She had a way of instilling the desire in others to travel a better course. She was not only a mother or grandmother, she was a true friend.
Geraldine was also very dedicated to family. There were many nights that she stayed up late to help her children finish projects. That continued on with her grandchildren, helping them with their myriad needs – even with their homework. At times she didn’t understand the material but, as one grandson said, “She would do her best to make sure I got it”. She would often play games, color, or go on special 1 on 1 outings with family members. Selfless service and support was a daily occurrence where ever she was.
She showed her dedication to friends, those that she visit taught, and neighbors. Geraldine would often deliver homemade goodies, call them on the phone, write letters to share her love, or wave as she walked by.
Geraldine emanated meekness – a humble genuine confidence. Through playing charades with the grandkids, getting locked in an outhouse at her school, or through all her health challenges she showed meekness. Not retaliating or caring what the world would say but being secure with who she was – a daughter of God. She encouraged other to develop this same attribute – even about singing. Not concerned with how her own voice sounded, she would lift up her voice while singing the hymns of Zion and encourage those around her to sing – no matter what the condition of their voice. One granddaughter said, “Grandma told me she didn’t care how bad my voice sounded just as long as I sang because she thought it was important to sing to the Lord and that the Lord didn’t care how well your voice sounded.”
We will all miss this wonderful daughter of God. But we must remember that her desire for us to be our best continues beyond this mortal veil. She would want each one of us to live in meekness, put the Lord first, and daily and courageously demonstrate our own conviction to walk the walk and talk the talk of discipleship so that when we all are once again reunited we can kneel down at the feet of our Savior and be together forever as family and friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Geraldine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Geraldine?
Share a story where Geraldine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Geraldine you’ll never forget.
How did Geraldine make you smile?