Fontella Sweet

Fontella Jackson Sweet

1935 – 2022

Fontella Jackson Sweet was welcomed into her family on August 26, 1935 while they lived on a farm in Lyman, Utah. She was 7th of 9 children born to Harvey Perry and Fern White Jackson.  She grew up in West Mountain, Utah, near Payson.  Fontella met her husband, Sidney E. Sweet “Sid”, in 1956 while living in Salt Lake City. They were married in South Glens Falls, New York in 1958, where they began their married life and added Jeff, Rose and Fern to their little family. Sid and Fontella moved back to Utah in 1964 and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on April 29, 1966.  Here in Utah, they completed their family with James, Rod, Shauna, Audrey and Sam.  After moving from Murray, Utah, Fontella lived most of her life in West Valley City.  She and Sid divorced in 1978 and she raised her 8 kids on her own from that point on.  Well, that's not entirely true...she and her village raised her kids.

Fontella attended college in Logan, Utah for one year.  Ironically, her first job away from home was at Sweet Candy Company. In her early years she worked as a seamstress and later worked at the Bishops’ Store House in Magna.  After that, she worked at Rockwell International then The University of Utah Medical Center, where she retired. After retirement, she loved working part time at Silver Hills Elementary.  The Silver Hills staff called her “Fantella”. She adored all the children in the school, who loved to visit her candy jar and yell, "Hi Mrs. Sweet!".

Many friends and family were recipients of her beautiful wedding and birthday cakes.  Fontella was a very talented lady.  She loved to collect things, including 10 million stamps and card making supplies.  Some of the lucky ones have been recipients of beautiful quilts she has made.  The grandchildren referred to her as the “Kissing Grandma”!  No birthday was complete until you got a phone call and birthday song from Grandma Sweet!  If you found a $2 bill floating around in your dresser drawer, you knew it was from Grandma.

Fontella loved to serve.  She was happiest when she knew someone enjoyed one of her delicious treats. Eclairs, divinity and fudge were some of her most famous. Fontella was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and working in the church Library and being a Temple worker were among her favorite callings. She loved her Savior, Jesus Christ and tried her best to be like Him.

It's not wrong to say, “To know her is to love her”.  Fontella loved, not only her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, in-laws, extended family, friends and neighbors, co-workers, store workers...she knew so many people and loved so many souls. She passed away peacefully January 22, 2022 surrounded by children and grandchildren who will be eternally grateful for her life and example.

Fontella was the last of her immediate family’s generation.  She was preceded home by her grandsons Thomas Sweet, Jacob Holladay and Seth Sweet.  She is survived by her children:  Jeff (Cindy) Sweet, Rose (David) Holladay, Fern (Russ) Anderson, James Sweet, Rod (Jean) Sweet, Shauna (Scott) Slack, Audrey (Jeremy) Newman, Sam (Carrie) Sweet, and 32 beautiful grandchildren, 31 beautiful great-grandchildren and 3 on the way!

A viewing will be held on Friday, January 28th, 2022 6-8 pm
Peel Mortuary
8525 W 2700 S
Magna, UT

Funeral Services will be held January 29, 2022, 11:00 a.m. with a viewing prior to from 10:00-10:45 am
Copperhill Stake Center
6710 W 4145 S
West Valley City, UT.

We respectfully request masks be worn for our immunocompromised family members.

Interment will be at Payson City Cemetery, 1:30 p.m.
400 N 800 E Street
Payson, Utah

If you are unable to attend in person and would like to view the funeral remotely, this link will work at the time of her service:

Funeral service hyperlink:

http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/saltlakehuntercopperhillstake