Celebrating Mom

 Mom passed away on November 5th. She was being dressed for the day by my Dad and the hospice nurse. She left this earth peacefully and well loved.

 We held a viewing at the church on the night of November 8th. Our family felt so loved and supported by the many family members and friends that shared love and support.

 The funeral was held on November 9th. It was a wonderful celebration of her life and I am so grateful for the amazing family she blessed each of us with.

 We had a bag piper come and play. It was something she always wanted.

As a family we ended the day in the kitchen, where Mom spent a lot of her time. I am so grateful that my Mother is no longer suffering the effects of Dementia and I know that she is with all of us in a more complete way than she has been for a long time.

I am so grateful for my faith in Jesus Christ and the opportunity I have to be a part of this eternal family that I so dearly love!

I Love You Mom!

JoAnn Bellows Gillespie

January 30, 1946 –November 5, 2015

 

JoAnn Bellows Gillespie was born in Fort Worth, Texas January 30, 1946 to Lynn J. and
NaDean Davis Bellows. She peacefully passed away Thursday, November 5, 2015 in her home
in Provo, Utah after a long battle with Dementia.
JoAnn graduated from Orem High School in 1964 and Brigham Young University in 1966. She
married her high school sweetheart, Paul A. Gillespie in the Salt Lake Temple on April 4, 1968.
She was a devoted wife, mother of 8 children, and grandmother of 25. 
JoAnn was known for her radiant smile and impacted the lives of hundreds of people she came in
contact with. JoAnn was an extremely hard worker. She was employed at grocery stores,
insurance companies, Brigham Young University, and credit unions. She was a manager at Utah
Community Credit Union for ten years.
Her work included several church callings, building homes with her husband, and raising her 8
children in the gospel. She had a great passion for working with the youth in the church, in
young women, in the Missionary Training Center, and at the Provo Canyon School.
As a mother she taught her children the importance of working hard, playing hard, and living the
gospel. Her sense of humor provided happiness, joy, and balance in the home.
One of the highlights in her early life was the opportunity to serve at the Hill Cumorah Pageant
in New York State. Later in life she loved to travel with her family or her husband to any place
that was warm.
JoAnn is survived by her devoted husband, Paul A. Gillespie, her father Lynn J. Bellows, her
eight children Kimberly (Brad) Anderson, Stephanie (Andrew) Horton, LauraLee Gillespie,
Kelly Gillespie, Kerri (Matthew) Larsen, Kristopher (Michelle) Gillespie, Julie (Jeffrey)
LeCheminant, and Spencer (Angie) Gillespie, 25 grandchildren, and her sisters Mary Beardall,
Linda Olsen, and Kris Chistensen. She is preceded in death by her mother NaDean Davis
Bellows, and sister Carolyn Louder.
JoAnn was greatly cared for by CNS Hospice Care, with special thanks to Heather McAllister,
and Monica Boyer. She was deeply and patiently cared for by her daughter Kelly and loving
husband Paul.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 9, 2015 at 11:00a.m. at the Edgemont 7th Ward
Chapel, 555 East 3230 North, Provo, Utah. Family and friends may call Sunday evening from
6:30-8:30p.m. or Monday from 9:30-10:30a.m. at the Edgemont 7th Ward Chapel. Interment will
be at the Orem City Cemetery.