Oct. 31, 1929-July 3, 2024
Geraldine Hafen Stirling, 94, returned to her Heavenly Father on July 3, 2024, at the Beehive Home at Coral Canyon, in St George, Utah. Geraldine was born in Santa Clara, Utah, on Octo 31, 1929, to Rose Ann Gubler and John Hafen. She grew up in Santa Clara and attended school there through the sixth grade. She also attended and graduated from Woodward Jr. High, and Dixie High. During high school she was an outstanding typist and received many awards for her typing speed and accuracy. She gave the baccalaureate address at her seminary graduation. She attended BYU for three years.
She married H. Carlyle Stirling April 12, 1951, in Santa Clara, and that marriage was later solemnized in the St. George Temple on Feb 13, 1958. They lived in Leeds their entire married life. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 12, 2001, by going on a cruise to Hawaii, and a family reunion. They did a lot of traveling in their later years.
Geraldine was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, starting at age 15 as Sunday School secretary and also accompanying on the piano for all of the organizations. She was a Sunday School organist for many years, also later was organist for Mutual, Primary,and Relief Society. She was also the organist for her seminary class for 3 years. She has taught classes in all the organizations. She was Primary president in Leeds for 6 ½ years, also served as a counselor in Primary. She was a visiting teacher for many years. She was queen of the Santa Clara Gold and Green Ball. She supported her husband while he was Bishop and Stake President for many years. They were host and hostess to many general authorities of the church during his time as Stake President.
She was employed in various places before her marriage, one being the BYU bookstore while she was attending BYU. She was employed by her brother, Orval Hafen as a secretary at his Ford care dealership for about a year before her marriage. She was also employed at Dixie Regional Medical Center for 31 years, working in the office, at the switchboard and in medical records for many years as a transcriber and a coder. While working for Dixie Medical Center she took a course and received her ART (Accredited Medical Records Technician) degree.
She was always very thorough in everything she did, very dedicated, very efficient and well organized. She was a loving wife, mother of five children and grandmother of 16. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, never forgetting a birthday, Christmas or holiday, always sending them gifts. Her word was good as gold; she always kept her promises. She was known as a lady and a scholar. She was said to be as dependable as the sunrise. She was a quiet and private person who always kept her troubles to herself. She was very patient. She always worked hard trimming shrubs and the lawn and loved working in her rose garden, raising beautiful roses and keeping things looking nice. She loved to play the piano and organ and to organize scrapbooks and photo books. She was an elegant hostess and hosted many church and other fun parties at their home. Geraldine was always proud of her Swiss heritage and to be a Santa Clara Dutchman.
Geraldine is survived by five children; Dr. Mack Stirling and wife Dixie of Traverse City; Michigan; Lloyd Stirling of Orem, Utah; Colleen Gardner and husband Bronson of Garfield Heights, Ohio; Curtis Stirling and wife Kay of South Jordan, Utah; Carol Whitmer and husband Ronald of Leeds, Utah; 16 sixteen grandchildren — Karla, Marci, Adrienne, Kristin, Janet, Grant, Brian, Kevin, Mark, Spencer, Todd, Danielle, Stacey, Justin, Michelle and Stephanie; great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, H. Carlyle Stirling; her parents John and Rose Ann Gubler Hafen; her sister Myrla Stephenson and half brothers and sisters Ballard Hafen, Susette Hafen, Carrie Hafen, John Weston Hafen, Arthur K. Hafen, Guy Hafen, Max Hafen, Orval Hafen, Jessie Frei and Lucille Stevens.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m. at the Leeds Chapel located at 75 N. Main Street, Leeds, Utah. There will be a visitation prior to services from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Interment will be in the Leeds City Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary, and funeral listings.