Elizabeth Pokorny Robertson

Elizabeth Pokorny Robertson passed away peacefully at her home in Taylorsville, Utah on June 7, 2024 at the age of 80 from the effects of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.  She was the daughter of José Juan Pokorny and Filomena Alida Ferreira born on July 18, 1943 in Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.  In January of 1972 she immigrated to the United States and married Herbert Carter Robertson in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 16, 1972.  In 1978 she became a US citizen and forever after was grateful for the opportunities this country offered her.

Always a devoted daughter, sister, mother and wife she eagerly supported and cared for each family member in good times and in times of difficulty.  For more than 20 years she cared for her widowed mother who for much of that time suffered from diminished mental capacity.

Elizabeth was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life.   She had a strong testimony of her Heavenly Father and of her Savior, Jesus Christ.  She served in three different ward Relief Society presidencies and as music chairman, music director, and choir conductor for much of her adult life.  From 1968-1970 she served as a missionary for the church in Chile.  She later served two local missions with her husband.

She learned to be a superb cook as those who sat at her table or ate of her dishes can attest.  For her, cooking was an art to be viewed as well as tasted.  Developing new recipes came naturally to her.  She studied at Salt Lake Community College to become a caterer of international cuisine, but unfortunately the course of study was discontinued by the college and she had to settle for earning a certificate in business management from the school.

Elizabeth was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice and enjoyed sharing it at social engagements as well as church meetings and functions.  Not surprisingly she became interested in the electronic keyboard and taught herself how to play it for the enjoyment of her husband and herself.

In 1990 she organized and led “La Fraternidad Hispana para Gente de la Tercera Edad”, an organization for the betterment and enjoyment of older Spanish speaking individuals.  Members were taught English, survival skills, computer skills and preparation for US citizenship.  Social activities and outings were part of the program as well.   She and the organization received several awards for their contribution to the community.  Her success undoubtedly led to her being appointed to the Utah State board of Aging and Adult Services by Governor Leavitt in 1999.   After 25 years of leading “La Fraternidad Hispana”, she turned the leadership over to younger women.

In later years family history, became one of her great passions.  She visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake with Herb almost weekly for several years searching out her family in Europe and South America by examining microfilm records one by one.  Her family tree grew enormously from those efforts.  She also enjoyed indexing genealogical records and indexed over 100,000 names.

Reading, traveling, studying foreign languages, watching Spanish language TV serials, gardening, and playing board games were some of the additional pastimes she enjoyed.

She is survived by her husband Herb, son Byron Mark Robertson, daughter-in-law Aimee Suzanne Pelletier Robertson, six grandchildren: Aiden Mark and his wife Carole Anne, CJ (Carter Joseph), Rachel Elizabeth, Drezden Jacob, Liam Nolan, and Mindy Rayne as well as her niece Adriana Gonzalez and great nephew Rodrigo Grajales.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Edith Lydia (Gonzalez), and a brother Carlos Antonio Pokorny.

Her funeral service will be held in the Bennion Heights Ward 3555 West 5620 South, Taylorsville, Utah on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 1:30 pm.  A viewing will be held at Memorial Redwood Mortuary 6500 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah on Friday, June 14, 2024 from 6 to 8:00 pm and also 1 hour before the funeral at the Bennion Heights Ward building.  Interment will immediately follow the funeral service at the Memorial Redwood Cemetery 6500 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.  For those unable to attend the funeral, the services may be viewed by clicking here.