Janet Parsons Rife
Janet Parsons Rife
1957 ~ 2012
Janet Parsons Rife, 54, our beloved daughter, wife, mother, “NanaJan,” and friend died on November 16, 2012, at home, of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Janet was born December 31, 1957, in Casablanca, Morocco, to Richard Blaine Parsons and Cenia Marie Carlsen Parsons, whom she loved and honored. She married her eternal sweetheart, Richard C. Rife, on November 19, 1976, in the Provo Temple. Janet had six children and nine grandchildren, whom she dearly loved and selflessly served.
Janet was an Army brat, growing up in California, Texas, Norway, Wyoming, and Thailand. She graduated from the International School of Bangkok and attended BYU. Her main focus was as a homemaker and mother, but she was also a gifted interior designer who most often used her talent free of charge for friends and acquaintances. She was never happier than when letting her “decorating juices flow” on behalf of someone else.
Janet was a devoted latter-day saint who loved the Lord and the Church. She was a true disciple of Christ, who quietly served others. She did not seek fanfare; it was enough if the Lord knew. She was an avid student of the scriptures who had a daily “Sacred Grove” experience by studying the scriptures, praying to her Heavenly Father, and recording her inspiration in her journal.
She had”and completely magnified”many callings in the Church, including Young Women President, Primary President, Relief Society counselor, mission president’s companion, teacher, Primary chorister, pianist, and temple worker. Her main role was as a Young Women leader who loved the young women and could not wait for the next girls’ camp.
From 2001 to 2004, Janet served a full-time mission with her husband as president of the Korea Daejeon Mission. In this calling, she was surrogate mother to 350 missionaries, caring for their health, showing them love, and teaching them insightful gospel lessons. She set a great example of Mormon womanhood for the missionaries and helped them develop a deep love of the scriptures.
Still, her greatest service in life was as a wife and mother. Janet and Rich built a great marriage. She was so kind, generous, and fun that it was easy to be married to her. She loved her children and grandchildren with all her heart and derived great joy from her relationship with them. Janet loved to serve her children and grandchildren. To her children, she was a fountain of wise advice without a hint of criticism. She leaves a void in our family that can never be filled.
Janet had an eclectic list of “favorite things” she loved passionately: Organizing things; color coordinating; new clothes, shoes, and accessorizing; Disney princesses; clouds; the night sky and astronomy; the rainbow spectrum; blue and white china; the four seasons; Camp MIA Shalom (girls’ camp for the Orem stakes), and the hike to Lone Pine; music, especially Handel’s Messiah; art museums; hiking and biking; gothic arches; forget-me-nots; the color blue (and also red and yellow); the ocean and beaches; Mount Timpanogos; temples (especially Provo where she was married and Mount Timpanogos where she served as an ordinance worker); faith, hope, and charity (her theme); her husband and family; and supporting a missionary son in Korea.
Janet had high energy and a passion for everything she did. She was physically beautiful and spiritually beautiful. She created beauty. The world will be a less beautiful place without her.
If Janet was your friend, you had a true friend indeed. She loved to have lunch with her many friends. She is known by all for kindness and service within her sphere of influence.
It is rare indeed to meet someone who makes such a positive impact on the lives of others as Janet Rife did. Our lives”and countless others”have been greatly enriched by her presence. We will miss her terribly. There is no way to replace her.
Janet was diagnosed with ALS in July 2011. She faced this terrible disease with courage and grace. It was her goal to endure ALS with patience and cheerfulness. ALS robs its victims of muscle use. Janet prayed to be able to retain her ability to smile, so she could show the world that she was bearing her affliction cheerfully. And God granted this wish. She smiled all the way through this tragic illness. Although she hated the thought of “dying young,” she was grateful for the privilege of raising her six children to adulthood.
We are grateful for the service of Janet’s three daughters, who tenderly cared for their dear mother with the full support of their husbands. We are grateful for the love and support of Janet’s parents and sons. We express sincere appreciation to Janet’s network of dear friends and sisters in the gospel who devoted much time and effort to serve her and bless her life in the past months. We will never forget their kindness and service.
We express appreciation to Dr. Mark Bromberg and the ALS clinic at the University of Utah for their loving care of Janet.
Janet is survived by her parents, of Orem; her husband, also of Orem; three daughters: Laura (Alan) Buchanan of Provo; Mary (Logan) Hammer of Layton; and Jennifer (Trevor) Cox of Orem; three sons: Brian Rife of Orem, Todd (Kiersten) Rife of Orem; and Elder Michael Rife, Seoul, Korea; nine grandchildren: Connor, Abby, Andrew, and Hannah Buchanan; Ayden, Sophie, Myla, and Rife Hammer; and baby girl Cox expected in mid-December; brother: Keith Parsons; sister: Laura Hindmarsh; and sister-in-law: Jill Parsons.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Orem Heatheridge 9th Ward LDS Chapel, 450 East 2000 North in Orem. Family and friends may call at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home (646 East 800 North Orem), Tuesday, November 20, 2012, from 6-8 p.m. and at the church from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Janet’s wish was that, in lieu of flowers, you use the money to take your family out to dinner and make a memory.
Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.walkersanderson.com