Joan Dorothy (Robertson) Flinders Obituary (1936 - 2021)

WATCH PREVIOUSLY RECORDED FUNERAL STREAM HERE (10 AM MST) Joan Dorothy (Robertson) Flinders passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on June 5, 2021 at the age of 84. She was born July 24, 1936 to James Henry Robertson and Julia Helen Sosnowski at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts. She had two younger brothers, James Charles and Thomas Michael. The life of this intuitively spiritual woman began in her infancy and childhood. She followed her inherent spiritual nature to seek after and cling to a repeatedly confirmed knowledge and testimony of the mission of Jesus Christ. Always comfortable with her feelings toward the Creator and Savior of this world, she grew in her understanding of both salvation and exaltation. As a teenager, she viewed a movie of His Crucifixion and Resurrection. The Spirit touched her deeply and guided her throughout her life. At age 20, she became a member of His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joan attended Brigham Young University where she met Neil J Flinders, a man who shared her desires and values. They were married in the LDS Logan Temple on June 3, 1960. Joan became the mother of seven children (four sons, three daughters) Leisa, Erin, Karalee, Tracy, Scott, David and Shelley; 37 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her love for her posterity was deep and constant. She was kind, faithful and devoted in her service to others. She was talented in all things domestic and spent her life caring about others--serving in her church and community in numerous roles. She was admired by all who knew her. Joan was a strong and energetic influence as a wife and mother in her family. Totally dedicated to her husband and children, she was a very good cook, a domestic organizer and focused on the practical details--especially about what was right and wrong. Feeding nine people three times a day for many years is a relentless task! She kept the family's financial records, created a caring mood and sewed many of her children's clothes. Before the school bus came, she often spent time listening to each of the children read from their lesson books and papers. She loved flowers and worked tirelessly in her yard. She loved to have order in her home. That meant her children grew up recognizing the value of work and responsibility inside and outside the house. She enjoyed the monthly personal interviews with each child as they reviewed their charts, which focused on both strengths and weaknesses; improvement was the goal. These motherly traits led to many funny and heart-warming stories in her family. Her frugal nature enabled her to excel in rearing a family on limited resources. Perhaps the most dominant interest beyond her living family was genealogical work. Joan's immediate progenitors were immigrants from Scotland, Poland, and Austria. She spent much of her time and talents in her later years seeking to learn about and serve her ancestors. She had loving memories of growing up in South Attleboro, Massachusetts and Southern California. The immigrant cultural influence of these hard working and happy people (many with catchy nicknames) helped shape her optimistic view of life. These progenitors came to the United States in search of freedom and opportunities. They brought with them many positive and patriotic values that enriched her life. During her life, Joan traveled to these foreign countries to better understand the people she loved. She found great joy and unexpected miracles in these experiences. Joan loved serving as a worker in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple and participating in the ordinances. She served a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois and cherished the time she spent there with her husband. The opportunity she and Neil had to spend three weeks in the Holy Land, learning more about the Savior and biblical history, was also a favored memory in her full and significant life. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Pleasant Grove Utah Manila Stake Center (850 N 900 E, American Fork, Utah). For those who would like to view the funeral stream from home, please follow the link above. A viewing will be held on Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Olpin Family Mortuary (494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove, Utah). Interment will be at Pleasant Grove City Cemetery, 600 North 100 West, Pleasant Grove. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.