3/21/37 ~ 8/13/04
Beloved wife, mother, daughter, and grandmother, Claudia C. Whiting, passed away August 13, 2004 peacefully at home.
Born March 21, 1937, Murray, Utah to Harvey Jared and Ivy Croxford Christensen. Married Lester Gene Whiting on September 9, 1955.
Claudia was a remarkable, insightful, intelligent, loving, quick-witted, conscientious, factual, complex, forward-thinking woman who loved to laugh. She was a survivor who battled chronic illness for most of her adult life--yet still was able to find great joy in living. Great humanitarian who was very caring about people of all cultures, she loved to travel and went to Egypt, Israel, Italy, and Hawaii. She never tolerated discrimination and always taught her children tolerance and respect for others. An armchair scholar who was incredibly well-read, she knew history, people, culture, politics, culinary arts, fashion, home design, gardening, self-improvement, sewing, landscaping, and architecture. Loved educational, historical, and informational television shows. She was a gifted writer who kept extensive journals of her life. Naturally talented, she designed her own house without any formal training, was a skilled photographer, and an accomplished seamstress who won awards for her doll cloths. She was a wonderful counselor and confidant who was judicious, fair, and wise with her feedback--she helped many people with their personal problems. She loved nature, gardening, the out-of-doors, and possessed a special affinity for birds. Her favorite summer activity was camping with her family, and she enjoyed planning and preparing for those trips year round. She had a passion for collecting toys, dolls, ceramic-Christmas villages, and Christmas nativities. She had a very special relationship with her husband--they spent many years together laughing, talking, and supporting each other. They shared many moral, philosophical, and political ideologies--and they were always plotting new adventures together. Loving daughter to her parents and very close with all her siblings, especially her sisters. Loved her children and grandchildren--they brought her tremendous joy. She leaves us all with a love of learning and ideas, and the courage to face life's great challenges with dignity and grace.
Survived by husband, Lester Gene, four children, Matthew (Holly Cheesman); Rebecca (Randy) Fielden; Nathan (Tiffany Woods); Paul and six grandchildren; mother, Ivy Christensen; sister, Joyce (John) Larsen; Belle (David) Nichol; Barbara (Mark) Robertson; Marilee (Larry) Larsen; brother, Jared "Derk" (Shan) Christensen; and Dell Christensen.
Funeral Services will be held, Wednesday, August 18, 2004, 12:00 noon at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.). Friends may call at the Cannon Mortuary Tuesday, August 17, 2004 from 6-8 p.m. and the day of the service from 11:00-11:45 a.m. Interment Mountain View Memorial Estates.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations be made to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, (866) 275-0243.