Verla Lou Woolstenhulme Obituary (1943 - 2022)

VERLA LOU WOOLSTENHULME - OBITUARY 2022 (Viewing, Funeral, and Graveside Service - ZOOM link details below.) Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, age 78, passed into the peace of heaven on the morning of April 6th, 2022. Verla Lou (Powell) Woolstenhulme was born to goodly and loving parents on Dec 30, 1943 in St. Helens, Oregon. Her childhood home was a happy, peaceful place where she felt much love from her parents Everett and Rhea Powell, her sisters JoAnn and Debbie, and her little brother Brent. She always looked up to her older sister JoAnn. They visited over the phone every day in their senior years. As she grew up in St. Helens, she enjoyed grandparents and cousins who lived close by. She often shared happy memories of times with her cousins and large family gatherings at her grandparent's home. Verla excelled and shined in her grade school and high school years. She enjoyed sewing, choir, dance, being on the yearbook staff, and serving in student government. During her high school years, a handsome farm boy caught her eye. She was smitten at first sight. After Ronnie returned home from a 2-year church mission in Pennsylvania, (The hardest 2 years of waiting for Verla!) they were married and sealed on a very snowy, cold day on January 18th, 1964 in the lovely Idaho Falls, ID Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Verla had a deep love and great respect and appreciation for her sweetheart of 58 years, Ronnie D. They were a super-team as they built and created their life together and grew a beautiful family in Nampa, Idaho. In 2015 Verla and Ron enjoyed the blessing of serving an 18-month mission together in Cornelia, Georgia - North Atlanta Mission. In 2017 they served a 2nd church service mission at the Nampa Records Operation Center for 18 months. Verla's pride and joy are her 7 children; her Magnificent 7 as she fondly called them. She adored each of her 38 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren (w/2 on the way ). She spent hours preparing for and holding cousin's day, throwing birthday parties, and hosting happy family gatherings on holidays and special occasions. Her grandchildren enjoyed her costumes, skits, hugs, delicious food, and the loving atmosphere she created in her home! 3rd Sunday potluck and Family Home Evening has been a tradition for 25 years to bring siblings/spouses and cousins together for fun, games, connection, and spiritual uplift. Verla/Mom/Grandma made each of us feel important, loved, and cherished. She treasured the strength of family and honored her pioneer ancestry. She sent countless letters, packages, and notes to each of her grandchildren and her extended family through the years. She had a deep and abiding belief in the power of prayer. She and Ron enjoyed their weekly trip to attend the Boise, ID temple from 1984 to 2015, where they also served as temple workers from 2013 to 2014. To know Verla is to love Verla - and to know Verla is to be loved by Verla. Her happy, loving spirit and smile touched everyone around her. She loved people sincerely from any walk of life. Service and reaching out to others around her was her true joy and special gift. She reached out in simple and quiet ways to lift and encourage others. She offered genuine love and support to her friends, neighbors, community, church family, and often strangers. Verla excelled in writing, speaking, planning and organizing, interior decorating, teaching, nurturing and caring for her family, learning, family history, creating fun, being a friend, and showing empathy and compassion. Verla's faith in and love of the Savior, Jesus Christ were precious to her. She found great strength and happiness in doing her best to follow in His footsteps. The way she lived her life was a reflection of her belief and love for Him. Together, Ron and Verla created a legacy of love and belief for their family eternally. Verla is survived by her cherished husband Ronnie D. Woolstenhulme, and her children Connie (Brad) Jorgensen, Karen (Kent) Broadhead, Kyle (Xenia) Woolstenhulme, Christy (Glen) Watson, Cory (JJ) Woolstenhulme, Kimberly (James) Riley, Cade (Charity) Woolstenhulme, 38 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and her sister JoAnn Swallow. An ONLINE ZOOM link has been provided by Zeyer Funeral Chapel for family and friends who are unable to attend the services. See info for the ZOOM link below. ZEYER FUNERAL CHAPEL website - Obituary, Memories, Photos/Video, ZOOM link: Choose Obituary tab - Click on Verla's Obituary - See Events section on her page - Go to the bottom of the Events section to Live Webcast - click on Watch Event. Zeyer Funeral Chapel VIEWING: Friday, April 15, 6 pm - 8 pm and Saturday, April 16, 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm Location: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1500 Smith Avenue, Nampa, ID 83651 Directions FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, April 16 - 1:30 pm Location: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1500 Smith Avenue, Nampa, ID 83651 Directions GRAVESIDE SERVICE for friends and family: Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery 15862 Indiana Ave, Caldwell, ID 83607 Directions Miscellaneous: Several years ago, Verla shared her thoughts on motherhood and life in a series of on-line presentations for women. Her God-given gift to inspire hope and to heal and lift the heart is a treasure that blesses our lives. We invite you to share in her wisdom, love, humor, and insights by listening to the "Verla - A Mother Who Knows" PODCAST on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or at https://anchor.fm/kc-broadhead.