Rosa Lee M. Parkin

My Grandmother passed away last week.  She was a great woman.  Many people don't know this, but both my Grandpa and Grandma were deaf.  Obviously, this made communicating difficult, but her love and example said more than any other form of communication could have conveyed. I can't even imagine living in this world without sound, but despite her handicap, my Grandma  brought so much joy and love to everyone she came in contact with.  

The funeral service was beautiful on a beautiful sunny July day.  Below is her Obituary from the Ogden Standard Examiner: 

Rosa Lee M. Parkin - Rosa Lee M. Parkin, 85, died July 14, 2010 at her home.

She was born October 18, 1924 to Guy and La Rena Caraveau, in Garden City, Kansas.  When she was three years old she and her brother lost their hearing due to scarlet fever.  She attended the Colorado School for the Deaf in Colorado Springs, and graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf.

She joined the LDS church in 1947 and married Gilbert Jay Don Parkin on May 28, 1949, in Ogden.  Their family was sealed in the Ogden LDS Temple on April 10, 1982.  Her husband of 52 years died Oct. 31, 2001.

She retired from the Internal Revenue Service after 15 years, prior to that she worked for Kiddie Ville Clothing and Sierra Lingerie.

Her interest included traveling with her family and husband, camping in her motor home, fishing, family history work, quilting, crocheting, card games and sewing.  She is an active member of the Ogden Deaf Branch LDS church.

Surviving are her children; Dennis Parkin, Riverdale, Patricia (Stephen) Felsted, Salt Lake City, Susan Grant, Salt Lake City, Brent (Georgiann) Parkin, North Ogden, 14 grandchildren and nine great/grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, July 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Grandview Ward Chapel, 3680 Eccles Ave., Ogden, with LDS Deaf Branch, President Mark Erwin officiating.  Friends and family may call on Sunday, July 18, 2010 at the Grandview Ward Building from 6:7:30 p.m. and on July 19, 2010 from 10am to 10:45 am.

Interment, Leavitt's Aultorest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be given to benefit the Utah Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 5709 south 1550 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84123.  Please make checks payable to : UCCD Trust Fund.