Search by Name

Search by Name

Patti Ann Gilbert

1954 - 2022

Patti Ann Gilbert obituary, 1954-2022, Lehi, UT

BORN

1954

DIED

2022

Patti Gilbert Obituary

Patti Ann Westberg Gilbert

1954-2022

Lehi, Utah - We regret to announce that our beloved Patti Ann Westberg Gilbert unexpectedly made her angel status official on June 30, 2022, from a complication of a scheduled medical procedure.

Patti was born to deaf parents Jerry Waldemar Westberg and Donna Lee Solt on June 14, 1954. Being a CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) shaped Patti's early years and ignited her advocacy for the deaf community at a very young age. The oldest of 6 hearing children, she nurtured her younger siblings Sherry, Cindy, Becky, Vickie, and Les. She became one of the first certified education interpreters in the state of Utah in 1976. Her dexterity from sign language also made her a mean secretary and transcriptionist. She could almost make a keyboard smoke.

Nicholas John Gilbert Jr. III married her on July 8th, 1976, in the Salt Lake Temple, despite the fact that she out-bowled and out-fished him on their first few dates. Together they raised three children: Jennifer Kielkowski (Josh), Heidi Jo Gilbert, and Nicholas John Gilbert IV (Amanda Watson). If she had your ear, then you knew how proud Patti was of all of her children.

She learned to sew from her mother and made all of her own (and her daughters') school dance dresses. She was a member of Granite High School's Letter High Pep Club and may or may not have been responsible for adding the "FARMERS!" letters to the rear-ends of their uniforms. Patti learned a love of camping from her father. She loved to fish…but hated fish. Unless it was halibut, which was her favorite. She had many talents and interests; she was a gardener, wedding cake maker, and sewer of Care Bears with upside down bellies. An entrepreneur of glow forge ornaments, remembrance plates, and holographic sign language flash cards (coming soon to Amazon!). She had a passion for family history, which took her around the world to Sweden and Guernsey to meet living distant relatives who she adored. Her favorite role though, was being a cheerleader and spoiler of her 6 grandkids: Lucy, Cohen, Jack, Bennett, Emily, and Dallin.

Patti gave her whole heart to everything she did—Sunday dinners made with enough food for last-minute visitors to join. Or late-night canning sessions for peaches, pickles, or tomatoes. If she had her way with the world, radio stations would play Christmas music year-round and we would never take Christmas trees down. She was a great speller and loved word games like Scrabble, boasting a cool 98%-win percentage on Wordle. Organization was not necessarily a strength of hers, but we delighted in finding hidden Christmas presents at Easter. In the few days since her passing, we've been finding hand-written quotes and notes around the house that she had jotted down. This one felt especially true to Patti:

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate. To have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." —Ralph Waldo Emerson.

She was love and service incarnate. Some of our closest family friends she met from a case of mistaken identity on a Trax train or buying a used car from a then-stranger on KSL. She was such a light to all she knew and had a knack for looking at the bright side of life. She shared a million little or large kindnesses that added up to a life well-lived and magnanimously loved.

Her love of family was only equaled by her love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Any problem was met with a "Have you prayed about it?" or "There is always something to be grateful for." One of the last notes she wrote read, "The older you get, the more you realize that it isn't about material things, or pride or ego. It's about our hearts and who they beat for." Patti's heartbeat for everyone she met. She lived her life for other people, especially those she loved. So many of our friends claim she was their second mom, and she was. But we are so glad she was ours, and that she is ours forever in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There are no words to describe our devastation of losing you from this life. All we can say is that all that we are, you helped us to be. Thank you for sharing this well-lived life with us. We don't quite know how to go on without you, but our first steps will be to take each day the way you did: with gratitude, positivity, faith, and love. Until we meet again!

Viewing will be held Wednesday, July 6th 6pm-8pm and Thursday, July 7th from 10:30-11:30am at the Lehi Utah Willow Park Stake center at 1998 W 900 North in Lehi, Utah. Funeral will be on Thursday July 7th at noon at the same address. Burial will be at Mountain View Memorial Cemetery at 3115 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights.

Published by Deseret News from Jul. 5 to Jul. 6, 2022.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Patti Gilbert

Not sure what to say?





5 Entries

We were so shocked to hear that Patti had passed away. So tragic and unexpected. We are so sorry and send our love to your family. Patti actually made our wedding cake in 1976. It was beautiful just like she was.

Steve and Chris Pierce

July 6, 2022

Candace Mahaffey

July 6, 2022

How can words express such great sadness! It is comforting to know Patti is with her sweet mom and dad and is not feeling all the physical pains she has had BUT it is heart breakingly sad to think of life without her. How can I think up my own projects? She always had a website or app to share that made life fun. One of my best memories is going camping on the beach in California when our kids were all pretty little. We just always had such a good time together even though we ended up living 600 miles away. Nick and Mike are good friends and Patti and I are kindred spirits forever! Patti and Nick always took such generous care of us when we were in Utah- feeding us, giving us a lovely guest room and usually a car to use. The hole in my heart is so huge. I just need one more hug and your cute giggle Patti! I will miss you every day until I can sit down beside you and you can teach me how to have fun in heaven.

LARI TAYLOR SMITH

Friend

July 5, 2022

With huge love, Lari and Mike

July 5, 2022

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
We are so sorry we cannot be there in person. Sending our love.

The Page Family: Sam, Andrea, Anna & Bella

Family

July 5, 2022

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results

Make a Donation
in Patti Gilbert's name

Memorial Events
for Patti Gilbert

Jul

6

Viewing

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Lehi Utah Willow Park Stake center

1998 W 900 North, Lehi, UT

Jul

7

Viewing

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Lehi Utah Willow Park Stake center

1998 W 900 North, Lehi, UT

Jul

7

Funeral

12:00 p.m.

Lehi Utah Willow Park Stake center

1998 W 900 North, Lehi, UT

How to support Patti's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Patti Gilbert's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more