Sondra Louise Howa Angell

Sondra Louise Howa Angell was born March 26, 1943, in American Fork, Utah and at the age of 82, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 15, 2026, at home in Brentwood, California, after a valiant battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Sondra was the oldest of sixteen children and the only one born to James Anthony Howa and Norma June Thompson. After their divorce, her father had nine additional children. Her mother had six additional children, two of which were stepchildren, forming a large, blended family. Blessed and baptized Catholic as an infant, she chose at age eight to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 28, 1951, a faith she served devotedly for the rest of her life.

She grew up in American Fork, graduated from American Fork High School in 1961. She attended LDS Business College and was honored to serve as the secretary to the President. She got her first job at sixteen at Jack and Jill Bowling Alley, where she became an excellent bowler, a passion she would carry through her life. After graduating from LDS Business College, she worked for Brunswick Inc. in Salt Lake City until 1962, then Alpine School District supply warehouse (1962-1966), where she became State Secretary for Utah's Non-Teacher Association.

Sondra married her sweetheart, Gary S. Angell, on August 16, 1963, in the Salt Lake Temple. Their love story spanned 62 years of unwavering devotion, working and serving side by side and supporting each other in all things. The sweethearts shared one final Valentine's Day together before she peacefully passed away the following day.

She served in numerous church callings with excellence and dedication, including Relief Society President, Stake Young Women President, camp director for seven years, and alongside Gary in the Jordan River Young Adult Ward, where they became beloved "grandparents" to young adults who considered them family. But her greatest pride was her family.

After moving from Provo, Utah to Pocatello, Idaho in 1967, she raised her family and devoted her life to her kids and community. In 1986, Sondra returned to work part-time and full-time at Associated Food Stores, working alongside Gary for many years. She was a fierce advocate for her children, coaching flag football teams to city championships, serving as team mother, chairing graduation dances, and ensuring her home was always the place kids wanted to be. She bowled competitively, played church softball and volleyball, volunteered tirelessly in PTA for nine years, and directed the renowned "Around the World Dinner" at Syringa School for nine years. She worked on election boards for 17 years and was deeply involved in Parks and Recreation, even becoming a Commissioner.

In 1995, they relocated to Taylorsville, Utah, where Sondra finished her career at C.R. England, earning Employee of the Year in 1996 before retiring in 1999. Together they created a home that became legendary, a place where friends, family, and strangers alike were welcomed and felt loved. They hosted baby and wedding showers, graduation celebrations, countless dinners and church groups, and it was the favorite place for grandkids and their friends to visit.

She and Gary traveled the world together, with families of Associated Food Stores; from European, Mexican, Alaskan adventures to five cruises. They loved dirt bike and 4-wheeler trips through Utah and Idaho's mountains, and fishing in their boat. She flew regularly across the country to support her grandchildren and visit her family scattered across Idaho, Texas, Wisconsin, Oregon, Georgia, New York, and Michigan. She was an all-in grandma who could be talked into just about anything. Movie marathons, ice cream parties, sleepovers, game nights. There was nothing she wouldn't do for her grandkids.

Her legacy lives on in every person who experienced her unconditional love, in her signature full-of-life cackle that could light up any room. Sondra lived with infectious joy. She was the loudest cheerleader at every game, the most devoted friend, the proudest wife, and a force of nature who did nothing halfway. Her talents served her well and ran deep in sewing skills to make blankets, dresses, and repairing clothes. She lived fully, loved completely, and served with her entire heart.

After Sondra's Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2016, she and Gary moved to Brentwood, California to live with their daughter Sharma, an emergency room nurse, and son-in-law David Hallinan, where they along with family and friends rallied around her as the disease progressed.

The family wishes to express special thanks to Sondra's primary care physician Dr. Amber Yee, and the staff at Suncrest Hospice, in particular Dr. Tony Zung, Bridget Burleson, RN, and her aide Nadine Soriano for their superior end-of-life care. Heartfelt gratitude to their neighbors and members of the Brentwood 3rd Ward.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 62 years, Gary S. Angell; her children Sharma (David) Hallinan, Dewey (Jarell) Angell, Ty (Becky) Angell, and Kayla (Brandon) Nelson; 14 grandchildren: Marlee (Chris) Mathews, Gary Radd (Kaitlyn) Harris, Mariah (JR) Richins, Truman (Lara) Angell, Natasha (Justus) Bradley, Alec Angell, Brenden (Audrey) Angell, Marissa Angell, Camron Angell, Paige (Bentley) Swensen, Brooke Nelson, Brittany (Budd) Pongah, Josh (Kelsey) Hallinan, and Kayla (Talon) Dschaak; 13 great-grandchildren: Jonah, Justus, and Aspen Mathews, Thea and soon to be Genevieve June Harris, Collins and Carter Richins, Cooper and Aspen Angell, Austin, Bella, and Taysa Hallinan, and Eleanor and Harriet Dschaak; and her siblings Janet Crystal (Jeff) Worms, Norine (Alan) Johnson, Curtis (Dawn) Howa, Kathy (Kendra) Howa, Steven (Ute) Howa, Brent (Lori) Howa, and Kerrie Alexander. Sondra was preceded in death by her parents James Anthony Howa and Norma June Thompson Howa; stepfather Darrell F. Dean; stepmother Nona Arnspiger Howa; brothers Larry Russell Williams, Howard Allan Cunningham; sister Rose Ann Dean; brothers Reed Darrell Dean, Scott Howa, Mark Howa, Kim Howa, and Max Howa; and brother-in-law Bob Alexander.

A viewing will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 10:00-11:30am in the Relief Society room at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Riverview Ward building, 1327 West 5550 South, Taylorsville, Utah. Funeral services will follow in the chapel at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at American Fork Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Sondra would prefer you to make someone's day bright!!