Olive Woods

August 3, 1923 - September 28, 2016

After living a full and happy life, on September 28, Olive Woods left this earthly existence to return to her heavenly home. She passed away in her home with her husband, son and grandchildren. Olive was loved and respected by all who knew her, and her presence in our lives will be missed. Olive was a woman of great faith and optimism. She would often quote the phrase, “All things shall work together for good, if ye walk uprightly,” found in several sections of the Doctrine & Covenants. Olive was a woman who walked uprightly, and things did work together for good in her life. Olive was born August 3, 1923 in Wadena, Saskatchewan to William and Francesca Smith. Her young life was spent in several towns in Saskatchewan, with wonderful memories playing in the fields and lakes with her brother and sisters. When Olive was old enough to work she moved to Montreal where she meet Ed Woods, who was working for the same company. Over the next year and half, Ed and Olive courted and were married September 18, 1947 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They lived the first year of their marriage in Montreal before moving to Winnipeg in 1948. Winnipeg was good to the young Woods family as they welcomed Scott, Mark, Lee and Nancy from 1950 to 1958. Olive met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Winnipeg and was baptized in May of 1955. Never one to sit idle, Olive was called to be Primary President two weeks after her baptism, and served in that calling until moving from Winnipeg in 1960. During those five years her Primary grew from 9 children to 75. Olive had a passion for sharing the gospel with everyone she met and that growing primary was just the beginning of her using this passion and talents to work together for good. Ed and Olive moved their family from Winnipeg to Sylmar, CA in 1960 where they would live in the same home for 44 years. During this time all things continued to work together for good in Olive’s life. Olive found joy and fulfillment serving in many capacities in the LDS church, including the Young Women’s Organization, Relief Society, Ward Choir, Primary and many years in the Bishop’s Storehouse. Olive always had a special place in her heart for Girls Camp, and many girls (now women) remember their time with her at camp fondly. She was a wonderful friend and neighbor spreading love and kindness throughout the areas where she lived. Olive loved her family, and loved spending time with Ed and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was raised during the Great Depression and never forgot the values she learned during those years. She took pride in hard work, efficiency, avoiding wastefulness and optimism. She worked diligently to instill those values in her posterity, and the lives her children have lived testify to her success as a mother. Olive and Ed were accomplished road-trippers, and the routes between Southern California, Orem, UT, Saskatchewan and Vancouver (among others) were very familiar to their beloved Ford LTD’s (green and brown). These trips continued at least annually, but usually several times a year until she was 90! Special mention must be made of Ed and Olive’s relationship. Ten days before her passing, they celebrated their 69 years of marriage together. From a little ceremony in Winnipeg, with only 18 in attendance, through those 69 years they lived a life of love, respect and honor every step of the way. On December 27, 2013 Ed and Olive were sealed for time and all eternity in the Mt Timpanogos, LDS temple. We are grateful to know because of this ordinance, we are an eternal family. During the last few years of Olive’s life as her health and strength faded, Ed’s role evolved as he took on the role of caregiver. Despite his own advanced age, he honorably and lovingly cared for her. We wish to publicly thank him for his dedication to our mother, grandmother and beloved great “Grandma Olive.” The family would like to thank the many caregivers from Summit Home Health who became good friends to both Olive and Ed. They went above and beyond in their service. Olive is survived by her husband Ed, son Mark, daughters Lee and Nancy, grandchildren Brad (Jenni), Robbie (Melinda), Kevin (Jocelyne), and great-grandchildren Abbi, Ian, Luis, Olivia, Graham, Mark, Henry and Ana. Preceded in death by grandparents, parents, sisters Eugenie and Audrey, brother Kenneth, son Scott, daughter-in-law Janet, and grandson Russell. In the end, all things did work together for good in Olive’s life. Olive was good and walked uprightly before her Lord. Olive loved her Savior Jesus Christ and had a firm testimony of the Atonement and Resurrection. She graciously shared that passion with those she met and helped them know, they too were children of God. At this time of her passing we are comforted by, and feel joy in the knowledge that she has been embraced in the loving care of her Heavenly Father, family and friends. Funeral Services will be held, Monday, October 3, 2016, at 11:00 am, at the Sunset Heights Stake Center, 1260 South 400 West, Orem, where Viewings will be held Sunday, October 2, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and prior to the services on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.