Angela Paez Bowden

A Band of Angels came down tonight,
to get our mother in the soft moonlight,
they carried her away and the Lord did say,
Behold, Angie arrives today.

Our glorious and beautiful mother, Angie Bowden, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on July 17, 2023. Mom was born on May 31, 1927, to John and Enedina Paez in Salt Lake City, Utah. She married our dad, Blaine Bowden, on August 24, 1950, in Elko, Nevada, and they were married until his passing in 2012. Together they raised two sons and three daughters. Her eldest son, Chuck, preceded her in death in May of 2012, and she held his hand until the very end.

At 96, how does one begin to paint the portrait of nearly a century of life and a lasting legacy? Mom’s story started in humble beginnings, growing up poor and helping her parents and ten siblings on a vegetable farm in South Salt Lake. She overcame a bone infection (osteomyelitis) in her leg that hospitalized her for an entire year at the tender age of 11. As a young teen, Mom went on to work in the amputation center at the Bushnell Military Hospital in Brigham City, and helped care for US soldiers that were shot down or wounded during World War II. Mom had amazing stories of strength from these men who had lost limbs and it left such a powerful impact on her. We always felt that had mom been able to receive a formal education, she would have become a doctor.

Growing up, Mom baked and cooked not just for her family, but for the neighbors as well and was famous for her enchiladas and raisin cookies, but she is best known for her fabulous rum-soaked Christmas fruitcakes. A second mom to all our friends and beyond, she was always warm and loving and has left a lasting impression on so many people.

While raising five children Mom went on to become an electrologist and esthetician and worked at the ZCMI Beauty Salon at the Cottonwood Mall for 20+ years and was a pioneer in her field. Mom saved all her tips and was proud to put down full payment on a condo she bought as an investment in Murray, Utah, much to the surprise of her family, but that was our mom, full of surprises.

Mom’s spiritual awakening led her to Pastor Ken Hornok’s Murray Bible Church where she was baptized as a born-again Christian. She was able to fulfill a life-long dream by traveling to Israel and getting re-baptized in the River Jordan by Hal Lindsey. Mom’s faith in her Savior Jesus Christ never wavered and she was responsible for bringing her family to know the Lord.

Our Mom never complained and never wanted anything more than to be present in the moment.  The strongest person any of us have ever seen, facing the impossible, persevering through hardships and tragedy, she was, to us, indestructible! We will love and miss that precious face forever.

She leaves behind her loving children, Larry Bowden (Margo), Lauren Manzanares (Claude), Farah Benevento, D’yana Bassett (Jay). Grandchildren, Deena Manzanares, Lacey Bowden, Shannon Bowden, Griffin Murray, Ondrea Benevento, Lili Benevento, and Jude Benevento. And her very special great-grandchildren, Charlie Wride and Link Manzanares. Preceded in death by her parents, husband, eldest son, and adoring brothers and sisters.

Graveside services at Leeds Cemetery, Leeds, Utah at 11:30am, on July 26, 2023.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Angela’s online guest book at www.spilsburymotuary.com