(April 11, 1925 – Dec. 31, 2015)
Our mother, Helen M. Hafen, age 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, after battling bladder cancer for over a year. She was born April 11, 1925, in Wheatland, Wyoming, to Roy Morgan and Mary Josephine Murphy Sharples.
She is survived by her eight children and their spouses, JR Hafen (Merriley), Mike Hafen (Valyn), Alex Hafen (Cheryl), Nancy Esplin (Larry), Chris Grimshaw (Doug), Ernie Hafen (LeAnn), Margie Hunt (Mitch) and Patricia (PT) Schnoor (Steve); and a brother, John Sharples.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Elvin; three sisters, Maxine, Doris and Jacquline; two granddaughters, Jennifer and Amber Hafen; and daughter-in-law Cindy Hafen.
She and Elvin were blessed with 35 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Mom was raised in Mitchell, Nebraska, until she was nine. The family moved to Compton, California. She met Dad one summer while working in a grocery store in Las Vegas. They were married and moved to spend the rest of their lives in Santa Clara, Utah. Together, they raised their eight children in the same house that her late husband, Elvin Hafen, built 66 years ago.
Mom worked hard raising us eight kids, helping dad with the farm and garden, bottling over 1000 jars of fruit each summer and sewing over 64 shirts for her four sons. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed many, many Easter, Christmas, May Day, Valentine and school dresses and formals for her four daughters.
She took pride in being a clerk at Center Department Store for over 25 years. She was very involved in Santa Clara Roadshows, doing compassionate service meals for her ward members and participating in many church callings.
The family has loved eating her yummy homemade rolls and all the oatmeal and sugar cookies throughout the years. We will miss mom’s sense of humor and quick wit. We couldn’t have had a better mother or father who taught us how to work and enjoy life.
Funeral services
- A receiving line will be held Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, from 6-7 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George, Utah.
- Interment will take place in the Santa Clara Cemetery.
Our family wishes to thank the Platinum Care Facility and Encompass for the special care given to mom during her illness.
Arrangements have been made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 435-673-2454. Friends may sign Helen’s guestbook online.