Yvonne Berniece Griffin Obituary (1922 - 2014)

Yvonne Berniece Griffin passed away peacefully in her home June 1, 2014 after a short illness. Yvonne was born on the Southern Alberta prairie between Champion and Carmangay in the family farmhouse. She is the oldest daughter of Edward Hadden Griffin and Bessie Leona Nielson Griffin. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings; Francis Edward, Walter Joseph, Ethel Louise and Vivian Irene Griffin. Yvonne always loved learning. Her years spent getting her education were particularly joyful to her. Her elementary education was in the Washington Country School; a short distance from their farm. She attended High School in Champion. After completing High School, she taught at many country schools. Due to World War II Canada, at the time, was experiencing a shortage of teachers which allowed her to gain teaching experience at a young age. In 1945 after the war was over, she went to the University of Alberta/ Edmonton to complete a Bachelors of Education Degree and later received her Master's Degree from the University of Utah in Educational Psychology. Yvonne spent many years working, first as an educator, and then a counselor in the Salt Lake and Granite School Districts. She especially enjoyed working with children who struggled with learning deficiencies. Yvonne has always had a strong testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ. In her lifetime she served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First, in 1948 to the Eastern Canadian Mission. The second, in 1957, the Paris France Mission. Yvonne had the good fortune to travel extensively. She enjoyed trips to Europe, Asia, the Holy Land, Russia and China. She also did tours to Church History sites in the Eastern States, Central America and Mexico. She loved the Holy Land and had the privilege of travelling there three times in her lifetime. Her love of the arts brought her great joy. She learned the piano as a young girl, but it was her painting that she truly loved. After studying art extensively, she painted many landscapes and portraits which her family members enjoy immensely. Yvonne served in many callings which included teaching and leadership in the Relief Society. Her love of the temple was profound and served in both the Salt Lake Temple and the Mesa Arizona Temple as an ordinance worker. She also served in the Family History Center in Arizona and, through this service, she developed a love of genealogy work; which she did extensively and she leaves a great legacy to her family. A viewing for Yvonne will be held at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT, Thursday, June 5, from 6-8 PM. Yvonne's burial will be in the Village of Champion Cemetery, Champion, Alberta, Canada on Saturday, June 14, 2014, 12:00 PM. She is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins that love and adore her. The family would like to thank Aspire Hospice nurses and aides for their loving kindness to her. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe South Valley 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT