Patricia Madsen Neff

Patricia M. Neff, age 82, passed away peacefully in her home on December 16, 2009, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Ogden, Utah, on September 8, 1927, to Clarence L. and Louise T. Madsen. She is survived by her beloved husband of 59 years, Richard Chamberlin Neff; siblings Mary Lou Redd (Wyman), Ruth Ogilvie (Ed), Roy (Frances), and Barbara Dowd (Don); children LuJean Schneider (Don), Rick (Taunya), Ken (Kalene), Tim (Cathe), Susan, and Patrick (Cathy); 20 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and one granddaughter, Angela.

Known affectionately as "Pat," her greatest joys in life were the gospel of Jesus Christ and being with her family. She attended Ogden High School and graduated from the University of Utah in 1948 with a degree in Nutrition. She accepted a dietetic internship from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and graduated as a Registered Dietician. Pat and Richard were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 22, 1950, and lived in New York City for several years before returning home to settle in East Mill Creek. Pat served faithfully in many LDS church callings, including 18 months from 2001-2002 in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission with Richard at her side. She also enjoyed many years of devoted service working as a secretary to the various directors of the Salt Lake Institute of Religion at the University of Utah. Pat was very proud of her heritage and spent hundreds of hours compiling her genealogy and family history information. She loved to work in her yard and garden, was a wonderful cook and homemaker, and was always health conscious, taking excellent care of herself and her family. She possessed a great love of music, a wonderful gift which she passed down to her posterity. Her beautiful smile, loving heart, and infectious laugh will live on in the most cherished memories of her loved ones.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the dedicated caregivers at Symbii Home Health and Hospice, as well as Evergreen Care Center, who did so much to assist Richard in making Pat's final years peaceful and comfortable. We also gratefully acknowledge Susan, LuJean, Patrick, Eva, and Cathy for their significant contributions to Pat's care.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at 12:00 noon at the East Mill Creek 1st Ward, 2702 E. Evergreen Ave. (3435 So.), in Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held Monday, December 21, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 So. 2300 E., and at the church Tuesday morning from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at the Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in Salt Lake City. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.holbrookmortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association of Utah (www.alz.org/utah).