God called our amazing, loving Mother angel home on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the very young age of 63. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends. Elaine was born October 16, 1950 to Daniel and Ramona Valdez in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was raised in Price, UT where she attended school and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1969. She went on to graduate from Stevens Henegar College in 1970 with an Executive Secretarial Certificate. She later received her Associates degree from Weber State University. Elaine worked for Weber State University for 35 years. She started as a secretary in the Ethnic Studies Department and had several positions before retiring in 2007 as a Program Administrator. She took such pride in her work and helped many people in her years of employment. Elaine met her future husband, Santiago Jim Sandoval, aka her Stud Muffin in Price at the age of 7. They were childhood friends until they began dating in high school. While Jim was serving in Vietnam, Elaine and her classmates sent him and his fellow soldiers letters and care packages. Following his return from Vietnam they dated for another year before marrying on July 3, 1971. From this union were born Maria Elena, Santiago Jr., Melinda and Antonio. Elaine opened up her heart and home to help raise as her own: Danny Valdez, Joseph Salazar, her white son Cameron Cook, Carlos Bombela and Valerie Stewart. Mom was the most giving person we knew. She always thought of others; giving them gifts/cards for each holiday, sponsoring families for Christmas and whenever needed, preparing/donating meals, taking care of the sick, etc. Her legacy will be taking care of anyone who needed it and still finding the time to teach her family what love really is. Not by telling us but by living it. Mom was known for decorating for and celebrating every holiday with her loved ones. No one left moms house hungry and probably had a to-go container to take with them. She enjoyed spending time with family, lunches with her Comadres, activities with the Red Hat Society but most of all, shopping with her partner in crime and sister-in-law, Cathy. Mom loved to travel, loved the color purple, enjoyed reading and watching her Lifetime and Hallmark channels. Mom waited, in her words, A LONG TIME for grandchildren. She was blessed with two step-grandsons, Emiliano Fatty and DeAngelo Angel Rocha. She then got to meet and help care for the love of her life, grandson, Jordan Sandoval. In the short 17 months that she got to spend with him, she showered him with genuine love and affection. She is now with the angels meeting her future grandchild who she will bless us with on Christmas Day. Elaine is survived by her husband, Santiago Jim Sandoval, daughters Maria Elena Sandoval and Melinda (Emiliano) Rocha, sons Santiago C. Sandoval, Jr. and Antonio (Tifani) Sandoval, her other sons Cameron (Annie) Cook and Carlos (Sara) Bombela and a very special niece Valerie (Eli) Stewart. She is also survived by her parents, brothers Harold (Anne) Valdez and Jim Valdez, sisters Dorothy Dunbar, Candy Hess, and Naomi Montoya, 3 grandchildren and many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Elaine was preceded in death by her grandparents, a very special Mother and Father-in-law and brother, Donald Sanchez. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday June 3, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1100 E. 5550 S. in South Ogden. Friends may visit with the family on Monday, June 2, 2014 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. with the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at Leavitts Mortuary, 836 36th Street, Ogden. In loving memory of Mom we request that you wear something in her favorite color, any shade of purple. Interment, Leavitts Aultorest Memorial Park, 836 36th Street, Ogden directly following Mass with lunch following at Holy Family Catholic Church. The family would like to give special thanks to all the loved ones for all the thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. A HUGE thanks to all the helpful staff at both McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden and the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray and Dr. Stephen Bruce. In the loving words of our mother, Thank you and have a super day! In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you visit http://www.yesutah.org/ and choose a way to contribute to organ donation or visit http://ycchope.org/yccogden/donations/ to help Elaines favorite community shelter. Visitation Information Date: Monday, June 2, 2014 Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Leavitt's Mortuary Address: 836 36th Street , , Ogden, UT, 84403 801-394-5556 | Map Rosary at 7:30 pm Service Information Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 Time: 10:00 am - Holy Family Catholic Church Address: 1100 East 5550 South, , South Ogden, UT, | Map 1100 E. 5550 S. South Ogden, UT Funeral Mass Cemetery Information Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 Time: 12:00 pm - Leavitt's Aultorest Memorial Park Address: 836 36th Street, , Ogden, UT, | Map 836 - 36th St. Ogden, UT