St. GEORGE, UTAH. N. Marie Hedman, age 66, passed away November 1, 2004, in St. George, UT, after a prolonged illness. She was born August 28, 1938, in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, to Bertrand Richard Godfrey and Rosezella Glenn Godfrey. When Marie was approximately one year old, her family moved to Northern Utah where she was raised and educated. She attended elementary and secondary schools in Midvale, UT, was a graduate of Jordan High School, received an Associates of Arts degree from the University of Utah, and a Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University. She married Paul Hedman on May 29, 1957, in the Salt Lake Temple. Over their 47 years of marriage, she lived with her husband and children in many locations across the United States: Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, and Redlands, CA; Brigham City, Orem, and Provo, UT; Arlington, VA; Gaithersburg, MD; and Dayton, OH. She and her husband retired to St. George, UT, in 2001. Marie was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in many callings, including approximately 30 combined years as ward choir director in many different wards across the United States. Marie loved to teach and was a certified elementary school teacher. One of her most memorable teaching experiences was when she taught "I Am a Child of God" to the K-8th grades in Saint Luke's Parochial School in the Washington D.C. area. Marie also enjoyed adventures, like traveling cross country in an old Volkswagen with only an 11 year old boy as a navigator. And then there was the time when Marie and Damon's flight into Washington D.C. was diverted to Dulles Airport where it was met by many emergency vehicles with red lights flashing. An unscheduled landing where the pilot came into the cabin reading his instruction book had preceded this. Then there was the tornado watch! Marie loved her family very much and worried constantly over their welfare. She has influenced many individuals for good, particularly her husband, who considered her his best friend and sweetheart for more than 50 years. She will be greatly missed. Surviving family include her husband, sisters, brother, daughters, son, foster-son, seven grandchildren, five foster grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 6, 2004, at 11:00 a.m., at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff St., St. George. Friends and family may call Friday, November 5, from 6-8 p.m., and again on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services, both at the mortuary. A brief graveside service held Monday, November 8, 2004 at the Mountain View Memorial Estates Cemetery, 3115 E. 7800 S., Salt Lake City, UT. Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary. The family wishes to express appreciation to all the doctors, nurses, and staff in the LDS Hospital Liver Transplant Program, and to the floor nurses and staff at the LDS Hospital who have taken such excellent care of Marie during many hospital stays these past three years. Gratitude is also expressed to the nurses, aides, and staff at the St. George Care Center for making Marie's last few weeks as comfortable as possible. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Marie's name to the Liver Transplant Program at LDS Hospital, Eighth Ave. & C Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84143.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 11/3/2004.