Gwen Desmond

Gwendolyn Irene Robertson Desmond, 68, of Alpine, Utah passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2021 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 9, 1953 as an early Mother’s Day gift to her loving mother, Dolores Robertson. Gwen and her mother had an unbreakable bond and special friendship that lasted their whole lives.

Gwen graduated from South High School in 1971.  She married her sweetheart, Michael G. Desmond, in the Salt Lake Temple on June 16, 1972.  Together they created a family that became their pride and joy.

Because her own childhood was difficult, Gwen worked tirelessly and selflessly to create strong family relationships and a loving home for her husband, children and grandchildren.

Gwen was an exceptional homemaker.  Her ability to create a home of peace, love, order, unity, and the smell of homemade bread was one of her greatest qualities.  Our home was filled with happy traditions and many family gatherings.  Each holiday was made special, each birthday a great event.  Even the smallest occasions for her grandkids such as soccer games, choir concerts, school parades and plays became special moments that Grandma was sure to attend.  The annual backyard slip-n-slide was always a grandkid favorite, especially because Grandma would be right there on the slide with them.  She was fun-loving and always a good sport to participate in the activities that involved her family, with the exception of a few questionable, hair-raising hikes in Southern Utah.  She enjoyed traveling with her husband and loved camping with her family. She provided the grandkids with both endless 4-wheeler rides and candy while camping.

If Gwen wasn’t holding a grand baby, then she was holding something she was making for a grand baby.  She was a very talented seamstress and knitter.  Each Christmas, she’d spend hours making matching pajamas for her 11 grandchildren.  She made stunning cross-stitch pictures to hang in her home. She knitted more blankets, dresses, sweaters, and hats than many people could in a lifetime.  But it brought her great joy to create things for others.

Gwen served valiantly as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Her favorite calling, and one she spent over 16 years doing, was serving and loving the little children in the nursery.  She had a simple yet powerful testimony of her Savior and her attitude and behavior emulated Him in everything she did.

She is survived by her husband, Mike, her children Jason Desmond, Beckie (Barry) Pomeroy, Melissa (Kurt) Heinzig, Jacob (Kristi) Desmond, and 11 grandchildren.  She is preceded in death and now reunited with her son, Aaron Desmond.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday May 26, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the Alpine Village Way Chapel, 901 E. Village Way, Alpine. A viewing will be held Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Anderson & Sons Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 W. 11000 N., Highland and at the church prior to the services Wednesday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.  Burial will be in the Alpine City Cemetery.