Glenna Pizza

Our beautiful, sweet mother, grandmother, great grandmother and devoted wife, Glenna Pizza, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday morning, November 21, 2024. She had lived a rich life full of Love, Service and Family and she was prepared to return to her Heavenly Home. Glenna was born April 24,1933, in Salt Lake Cty, Utah. She was the second of three children born to Edna and Marshall Raymond. When Glenna was just three years old, her father left the family. This was a real setback to the Raymond clan, especially because it was during the depression. Glenna's mother worked many jobs to support her little crew. This placed a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Glenna and her siblings. They learned early to work hard, be responsible, and to LOVE and DEPEND upon each other. These three were best friends throughout their lives.

 Glenna attended South High School where she made many of her lifelong friends. She was a member of a South High Luncheon Group that has consistently met for over 70 years. When Glenna was 18 years old her life changed forever when she was introduced to handsome Bill Pizza, while on an escalator at the ZCMI Department Store. Bill was "an experienced older man," almost seven years her senior. The age difference was not a problem; the sparks began to fly...Their Love Story had begun! They were married a year later on June 27, 1952, Glenna was 19 years old. Two years later, Bill and Glenna bought their first home on Memory Lane in Holladay. Holladay was a very rural community, the roads were not even paved. Little did they know they would spend the next 64 years at this special address. Together they raised their family of four wonderful children, Lesli, Bill, Brad, and Kim. Glenna was always involved in the lives of her children. She participated in the PTA, she attended all of her children's games and performances and was their number one cheerleader. As her family grew to include grandchildren and great grandchildren, you could always count on Grandma and Grandpa Pizza being in the stands cheering their family on.

Glenna was an accomplished homemaker. She worked tirelessly to make the lives of her family comfortable and memorable. Being a homemaker in the era of the 1950's and 60's meant mom did EVERYTHING at home! She prepared wonderful dinners every night, she planted a lovely garden, she sewed many of her children's clothes, she knit beautiful sweaters, crocheted baby blankets, and she kept her house SPICK and SPAN! To her last day she could not stand to walk by a table without wiping up crumbs and spills!

Glenna was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a strong testimony that she bore everyday by the example of how she lived. She served others, she ministered to the sick, she was empathetic, and she never said a mean thing about anyone. She put everyone's needs ahead of her own. She was beautiful inside and out. Glenna held many church callings. Some of her favorites were working in the primary, being the Mother of the Holladay 14th Ward, Serving a Mission at Temple Square at the Conference Center and serving in the temple. She also loved serving as an advisor to one of the Lambda Delta Sigma Sororities at the University of Utah. She loved music and had a beautiful soprano voice. She sang in quartets and with the Jay Welch Chorale. Her home was filled with music.

Glenna's main joy in life came from the time she spent with her husband Bill and with her family. Some of the favorite family memories were going to Capistrano Beach each summer, fishing in Yellowstone, golfing and watching tennis in Palm Springs, Christmas morning omelette breakfasts at Grandma and Grandpa's house and spending time in Phoenix to get away from the cold. Glenna was an avid Utah Fan and a die hard Jazz Fan. She LOVED John Stockton almost as much as her Beanie Babies and her Diet Coke! 

Glenna lived a rich and wonderful life. During the last 6 years she experienced several health challenges. She has faced her setbacks with courage and very few complaints. She was blessed to have her "Loving Husband BIll" by her side through all of her trials. He ministered to her with great tenderness and love. Glenna exemplified the 13th Article of Faith, "We have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Glenna was an example of all of these traits. She looked for the good in the people around her. She loved her family—especially her husband Bill—and she loved her Heavenly Father.

Glenna is survived by her husband of 72 years Bill Pizza, her children: Lesli (Scott) Rice, Bill (Donna) Pizza, Brad (Lisa) Pizza, Kim (Chuck) Warren. Her 19 grandchildren and their spouses, and her 36 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Edna and Marshall Raymond, her sister Ann Sansom, and her brother BIll Raymond.

The Pizza family would like to express their love and gratitude to the staff at the Cottonwood Ridge Assisted Living Facility, and to Heidi Lawrence Woker and Tammy McIntyre and the staff at Suncrest Hospice. They treated our mother with respect and gave her tender loving care. 

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Holladay 14th Ward Building, 4917 S. Viewmont Drive, Holladay, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at the same location. On Tuesday evening December 3rd, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. a viewing will be held at Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 S. Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah.