Oct. 30, 1940-May 10, 2022
Joan Goode Sorenson, cherished wife and mother, adored grandmother and great grandmother and a faithful daughter of God, admired by those who knew her, left this world on May 10, 2022, after a four-year battle with a degenerative nerve disease. She was 81.
She was born Oct. 30, 1940, in American Fork, Utah, but spent her youth in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Her parents were Charles Vern and Gladys Goode.
After completing Beauty School, she married David M. Sorenson in 1961 in the Salt Lake Temple in a ceremony officiated by Apostle Harold B Lee. She and David moved a week later to Boston, Massachusetts, where he completed higher degrees at Harvard and then joined the faculty. She worked as a hairdresser and gave vital support to his success. She typed his 450-page dissertation five times while tending three little children and doing church and community work. She was asked by the wife of the president of Harvard to serve on an official university committee with her to plan and carry out activities for the wives of new faculty members.
Joan loved to care for her home, her children and others. She had many talents and as the oldest of five children growing up, she took the lead to assist a handicapped mother, thus learning many wonderful homemaking skills in her youth. In the process she developed a great capacity to empathize and care. Joan was a doer with spunk who also loved a great challenge, especially when there was a need. She had the attitude that she could learn to do whatever new skill it took to build and maintain a home and loving relationships.
She sewed the children’s clothes, their wedding gowns, her husband’s sport coats and beautiful decorative rugs, afghans and blankets. When finishing the basement of the family’s new home she learned to do the electrical work and did all the wiring on her own. She fixed the dryers and washers and installed garbage disposals in her home and others. She learned upholstery and re-upholstered her furniture. She took classes in landscaping to design and care for her yard. Another favorite class and project was floral design. She helped re-roof their home several times.
She always wanted to be helping those who were cooking, cleaning or preparing for the next family or group event. To be in a wheelchair and not be helping was very hard on her.
Joan loved the gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly the part of serving others and having her family bonded together. She read her scriptures even when her sight became impaired.
She served as Young Women’s President, Relief Society President for five years, and in many other callings. She served a mission with her husband after retirement.
Joan also learned from her mother the power of love to bring peace and happiness to a home. She refused to argue or punish. She had faith that love was the way to improve relationships and bring greater peace in any environment. To be with her was to feel loved.
Joan took great pleasure in supporting her husband, her children and those around her, always wanting them to shine, making great effort to deflect it from herself. She didn’t want the spotlight but wanted it to shine brightly on others.
Joan is survived by her husband David, six children David Sorenson, St. George, Utah, Wendy Gull (Kevin), Draper, Utah, Scott Sorenson, Salt Lake City, Utah, Derek Sorenson (Nichole), Springville, Utah, Rebecca Busk (Chris), St. George, Utah, Heidi Smith (Eddie), Gilbert, Arizona. She is survived by 21 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Joan’s great caregivers from Encompass Hospice (particularly M’Liss, Aubrey and Dr. C. Kerry Stratford). Also, Margaret Graham and Kae Olson who were her personal caregivers. As well as the many others in her ward and neighborhood who so lovingly cared for her in her last years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humanitarian Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or your own favorite charity
Funeral services in St. George will be held on Friday, May 13, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 3202 East Crimson Ridge Dr., St. George. Visitation will be held prior to services from 6-7:30 p.m. with a short service following from 7:30-8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held in Provo, Utah, on Monday May 16, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 4056 N. Timpview Dr, Provo. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:45 a.m. with the service following at 11 am.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.
Click here to access the services via Zoom: meeting ID, 851 7001 1308; passcode, 1234.