of the Roman Catholic Church

William “Willie” Price was born on January 27, 1929 to David and Ethel Hall Price in Mohrland, Utah. Tragically, on November 24, 1933, David Price passed away in Helper, forcing his mother and five siblings to relocate to Salt Lake City.  Price lived on the City’s Westside, graduating from West High School in 1947. The following year, Price married his high school sweetheart, Frankie Rawlins on April 8 1948, having nine children. In 1950, Price began his thirty-eight year career with the Federal Government working at Hill Airforce Base in human relations, retiring as an EEO Officer.

Throughout his life, Price actively served his community and the Catholic Church. As a teenager he first ventured into community service by organizing a youth club who entertained servicemen in the USO. Next, he formed a church choir that sang throughout the city, and he joined the Boy Scouts. As an adult, he devoted much of his time to various civic groups: Northwest Community Action Program, Central City Community Center, Public Service Skill Program, Head Start, Employment Security and the Black Advisory Council. At Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, he established Guadalupe Youth Club, whose different teams won many state titles.

Price’s community engagements won him many awards: NCCJ Man of the Year and NAACP award for Civil and Human Rights.  

Price died on November 15, 2017.

Dolores Maestas of the San Juan Tesuque Tribe was born on June 19, 1928 to Philip and Juanita Maestas in Sante Fe, New Mexico.  She graduated from the St. Catherine’s Indian School. After graduating high school, Dolores began her collegiate studies at the University of Cincinnati in social work but transferred to Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana for better educational opportunities.  Upon graduating from Tulane University with a degree in social work, she returned to New Mexico to work as a social worker with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Shiprock, New Mexico on the Navajo reservation. In 1964, she met and married Dale Rousseau. The couple had one son together: Gregory. In September 1980, the Rousseau Family moved to Salt Lake City, so Dolores could undertake graduate studies in social work at the University of Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah with a master’s degree in social work in 1982 and began working with Catholic Community Services in adoption services.

Rousseau was an active member of the Native American Community in Utah. During retirement, she volunteered at the Indian Walk In-Center in Salt Lake City. She was a member of the Diocesan Native American Commission and enjoyed attending the Tekakwitha Conference.

Dorlores Rousseau died on September 10, 2021.

Vicenta Singh was born on August 25, 1920 in Elwood, Box Elder County Utah. As a child, she worked on her parents’ farm. In her early twenties, she worked for the Federal Government, beginning her career at Bushnell Hospital, Brigham City. Later she transferred to the Defense Depot Ogden as Systems Accountant. As Systems Accountant, Singh developed several accounting systems for the Department of Defense. She was cited with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the second highest award given to a government civilian employee.

After retiring from the government, Singh continued to work for the following companies: Bourns, HR Block, Dover Heating and Air Conditioning.

She also volunteered for numerous organizations, including 4-H, Bear River Valley Credit Union, Beta Sigma Phil Sorority and the Farm Bureau of Corinne. At St. Henry’s Parish, she held various offices in different Church societies and was actively involved in Catholic Youth Programs. She became the first female Eucharistic Minister in Utah.

Vincenta Singh died on September 14, 2019.

Bibian Julio Rendon was born on April 13, 1923 to Edward and Mary Rendon in Alcalde, New Mexico. The family later moved to Colorado.  At the start of World War II, Rendon enlisted in the Army and fought in the Pacific Theater. During the Leyte Campaign, Rendon was wounded by a shell, puncturing his ear drum and injuring his left arm. After the war, Rendon moved to Colorado, met and married his wife, Gloria. Soon after marriage, the Rendon’s moved to Bingham Canyon, where he was employed by the Kennecott Mining Company. While working at Kennecott, Rendon sustained a life changing injury that left him disabled. Because of his disability, Rendon found finding a job difficult. He started to work for the Internal Revenue Service. Later Rendon worked for the State of Utah Department of Employment Security Job Services. In the 1990s, Bishop William Weigand named Rendon Coordinator of the Office of Persons with Disabilities, a position he held until his retirement in the early 2000s.

From his experiences as a Latino American and a disabled person, Rendon became an advocate for both communities. He served on boards of different organizations that fought for Latino Americans, such as the Minority Economic Development Coalition of Utah and the Spanish Speaking Organization for Communities. In addition, Rendon was a member of the Disabaled Veterans of America.

Rendon died on July 21, 2014.

Vito Bonacci was born on November 5, 1901 to Domenico and Filomena Scalzo Bonacci in Decollatura, Cat-anzaro, Italy. In 1920, Bonacci immigrated to the United States, settling in Helper, Utah, where he worked as a miner. On December 5, 1926, Bonacci married Filomena Fazzio at Notre Dame De Lourdes Church, Price.   He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and the Coke Kenilworth Local #1681. He was also an active member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Helper and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Bonacci retired in 1962. He died on October 22, 2000.

Filomena Bonacci was born on December 20, 1910 to Rosario and Filomena Fazzio in Sunnyside, Utah. She married Vito Bonacci on December 5, 1926 at Notre Dame De Lourdes Church, Price.  She was an active member of St. Anthony’s Parish, Helper and a member of Sorella D’ America Lodge #77. Filomena died on August 19, 1998.

Adine Bradley was born on March 13, 1896 to Harry and Hattie Brownlee in Bingham Canyon, Utah. After her parents divorced, they agreed to send Adine to St. Mary’s Academy as a border. As a student at the Academy, the Holy Cross Sisters taught Bradley music. From there Bradley developed a love of music and began her career as a musician. After graduating from St. Mary’s Academy, Bradley moved in with her father and began giving music lessons. Her next job was playing at the American Theater in Salt Lake City. Eventually, she joined the Utah Symphony and spent forty-five years, playing the organ at the Cathedral of the Madeline. In 1920, she married John Bradley at the Cathedral of the Madeline. He died on October 31, 1949.

Adine Bradley died March 4, 1993.

Justine Pruss Buller was born on June 1, 1901 to Joseph and Mary Pruss of Butte, Montana. Buller moved to Salt Lake City, where she married Patrick Buller on November 8, 1922 at Sacred Heart Parish, Salt Lake City. The couple had four sons together: James P. Buller, Thomas Buller, Gerald Buller, and Patrick Buller. In 1941, the family moved to Ogden, Utah.

Throughout her life, Justine enthusiastically donated her time to both civic and Church organizations.  She was a member of the Roy Senior Volunteer Program, the Parent-Teacher Association, Children’s Aid Society, St. Benedict’s Auxiliary, Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and the Promoters of the Sacred Heart as well as an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish, Ogden.

Justine died on August 4, 1996 at the age of ninety-five.

Dixie Brown was born on January 18, 1928 to JaHue and Lillie Purcell of Houghton, Kansas. On November 7, 1945, Dixie married John Brown, moving to Moab, Utah in 1954. The Family joined the newly erected St. Pius X Parish, Moab, becoming active members of the parish community. Dixie served on numerous committees and organizations, such as the Parish Council and the Altar Society, where she served until her health declined.

Dixie Brown died on April 27, 2017.

Elizabeth Jacobs was born on June 13, 1919 to William and Mollie Poche in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She moved to Moab, Utah, where she became an active member of both civic and parish communities. She was a member of the Moab Chamber of Commerce, the Museum at Moab and many committees and organizations of St. Pius X.

Elizabeth Jacobs died on November 14, 2006.

Epifanio Gonzales was born on January 8, 1921 in Colton, California. He was a migrant worker who eventually settled in Salt Lake City. On January 3, 1941, Gonzales enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 19th Combat Engineer Regiment. During World War II, he served in campaigns in North Africa and Italy. After the war he attended school on the GI Bill and studied art and lettering and married Maria de la Luz Cabrera on June 1, 1946. The couple raised seven children: Randall, Shirley, Cecilia, Vincent, Alex, Laura, and Brian.

Since moving to Salt Lake City, Epifanio was an active member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. He served as a CCD teacher, RCIA Instructor, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and Choir Member. He was also a member of the Men’s Club, Knights of Columbus, as well as numerous parish committees. With his wife, he became a Third Order Carmelite.  

Epifanio Gonzales died on November 7, 2011.

Lucy Gonzales was born on May 31, 1928 to Ynocencio and Julia Cabrera. Growing up, Lucy lived on farms in both Utah and Idaho. She also worked at a neighborhood grocery store, a laundromat and a cookie factory. As an adult, Lucy worked as a house cleaner and later as a food services employee at West and East High Schools. She married Epifanio Gonzales on June 1, 1946.

She was deeply involved in the religious and social life of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. She volunteered at parish events and was a member of the Altar Society and Ladies’ Sewing Group, which she helped organize. She was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass and to the Sick. She became a Third Order Carmelite and supported the annual Carmelite Fair by selling her handmade crafts.

Lucy Gonzales died on May 7, 2021.

Muriel Mueda Kolb was born in 1920 in the city of Worcester, MA. At the age of six, Kolb was sent to a boarding school in Riverside, California, where she spent her childhood, until high school graduation. After graduating high school, Kolb moved to New York City to attend business college, returning to California to marry the love of her life Jewell Kolb in 1940. Together the couple raised five children, Daniel, Grace Sandi, Michael and Trish.

After raising her children, Kolb volunteered her time at local soup kitchens, the VA hospital, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, West Jordan, and the Catholic Woman’s League. The Catholic Woman’s League named her Woman of the Year.

Muriel Kolb died on February 5, 2012.

Marion Lipman was born to Lon and Margaret Buller on November 1, 1906 in Salt Lake City. She graduated from St. Mary of the Wasatch Academy. For college, Lipman attended Duchesne College, Omaha, Nebraska, graduating in 1930. Throughout her professional career, Lipman worked for Catholic Charities. In fact, Catholic Charities hired her as their first child welfare caseworker.

According to her obituary, Marion Lipman “personified the spirit of volunteerism,” serving as a member of the Catholic Woman’s League, Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, League of Women Voters, United Fund and the Volunteer Bureau of Salt Lake City, Junior League of Salt Lake City, Community Chest and Welfare Council to only name of few.

In addition to her civic and church activities, Lipman served on many state and national committees. Governor Dewey Clyde appointed her to represent the State of Utah at the Sixth White House Conference on Youth and Children in the early 1960s. She was a member of the Special Advisory Committee on civic matters to the Mayor of Salt Lake City and the Community Transit Services Board.

Marion Lipman died on March 14, 1997.

Stanley Litizzette was born in Carbon County, Utah on August 25, 1920 to Victor and Vera Litizzette.  As a child, Litizzette attended Notre Dame School and Carbon High School. After graduation, Litizzette enrolled in the University of Notre Dame, graduating magna cum laude in 1942. Continuing his education, Litizzette entered Georgetown University Law School, graduating third in his class in 1949. Litizzette was admitted to the bars in both Washington, DC and Utah. On June 16, 1956, he married Edith Breznick

Returning to Utah in 1949, Litizzette began his law career by opening a law office in Helper. Five years later, Litizzette served as Helper City Attorney from 1954 to 1976. In 1978, the Price River Water Improvement District hired Litizzette to become their general counsel, a position he held until his death in 1994.

Over his lifetime, Litizzette volunteered his services and knowledge as an attorney to many Carbon County organizations. He was general counsel and a member of the board of directors on the Helper State Bank from 1955 until 1978. Before becoming general counsel, Litizzette was a long-time trustee for the Price River Water Improvement District. He also was a member of the College of Eastern Utah Institutional Council from 1983-1987.

He also joined many local civic, fraternal business and religious societies, such as the American Bar Association, Stella D’America Lodge #77, American Legion and the Elks. And was a very active member of St. Anthony’s Parish, Helper, donating much of his time to various parish organizations, committees, and societies. In 1976, Bishop Joseph Federal appointed Litizzette to the Diocesan Bicentennial Committee.  

Stanely Litizzette died on February 21, 1994.

Linda Martinez was born in Leadville, Colorado on February 5, 1952. As a child, her family moved to Salt Lake City. After graduating from West High School, Martinez volunteered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Salt Lake City as a CCD teacher. She eventually became the parish secretary.  It started with Father Jerald Merrill and Sister Rosalie Mollica, a member of the Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters.  When someone did not show up to teach religious education, she was recruited as a substitute.  She began by teaching the children in a garage.  "We didn't have books, we didn't have crayons, we didn't have pencils.  We used what we had here in the office.  We used graph paper.  And she [Sr. Rosalie] would give us the curriculum, and we have this old mimeograph machine that we'd run off copies of prayers or whatever....But she taught us; then we went through basic Catechist formation class, a few of us, and we got our teaching diploma.  The class was for three years; we got our three year certificate; and it went on to five years when we received that certificate.  And I've taken master catechist courses twice, once with Virgina Osgood."  This was just the beginning of Linda's adventures in the parish.

Margaret Frances May was born on February 5, 1921 to John and Agnes Hearley in Salt Lake City. In 1943, May graduated from the Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing, enlisting in the Navy as a commissioned officer. The Navy assigned her to the Naval Hospital, which was a designated burn center, at Mare Island, California. In 1945, she married Willaim Rex May, with whom she had three children before their divorce in 1949.

After her divorce, May returned to Salt Lake City to raise her children and continue her nursing career. She worked at emergency rooms across the city: Holy Cross, St. Mark’s, and LDS Hospitals. In the 1960s, she entered the new medical field of industrial nursing by establishing the first medical center at Sperry Univac Corporation and the main branch of the Salt Lake City Postal Service. In 1983, May retired.

Although retired, May maintained an active life through civic and church engagement. She joined the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and donated her time to St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen. During the 1980s, she was appointed to the Women’s State Legislative Council and the Committee for Health and Human Services. She was also a very active member of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, serving in many parish organizations, clubs and committees. For her volunteerism, Bishop William Weigand awarded May the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice Award in 1989 and in 1994, the Salt Lake Council of Women named May the Utah Woman of the Year.

May died on February 29, 2020 at the age of ninety-nine.

Deacon Silvio Mayo was born on December 21, 1924, to Italian immigrants John and Antionette Mayo in Columbia, Utah.  His father migrated from Italy to the United States in 1888 and his mother arrived in the United States in 1923. The Mayo Family moved from Carbon County to Salt Lake City in the 1930s. Deacon Mayo attended and graduated from Judge Memorial High School in 1942, and the following year married the love of his life Mary Gonzales on December 23, 1943 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.  Together they had three children: Robert Mayo, Joanne Mayo and Msgr. Joseph Mayo.

For twenty-seven years, Deacon Mayo worked for J.C. Penney Company, Western Accounting Division, eventually becoming the Operations Manager for J.C. Penney’s Data Center.  

In 1974, Silvio Mayo answered Bishop Joseph L. Federal’s call for men of the diocese to join the newly established office of the permanent diaconate. On December 26, 1976, Bishop Joseph Federal ordained Mayo to the permanent diaconate. His first assignment was St. Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns.  In 1985, Bishop William Weigand appointed Deacon Mayo chancellor of the Diocese, making him the first deacon in the United States to hold the post. Deacon Mayo retired as chancellor in 2013.

He died on August 3, 2018.

Mary Gonzales Mayo was born on December 13, 1924 to Felipe and Ilar Gonzales in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mary graduated from Judge Memorial High School in 1943.

Mary worked as a Medical Librarian Assistant at various hospitals in the Salt Lake Valley. In her spare time, Mary volunteered at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Catholic Woman’s League and was also a Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. In 1996, she was named woman of the year by the Catholic Woman’s League.

Mary died on August 12, 2023.

Joseph Miller was born on August 9, 1914 to Joseph Henry and Edith Miller in Butte Montana. The Millers moved to Salt Lake City where his father opened a hat store. Miller graduated from Judge Memorial High School. After graduation, he entered St. Joseph Seminary in Mountain View, California. During the Great Depression, his father died.  Miller left the seminary and returned to Salt Lake City to take care of his family. On June 27, 1938, Miller married Marion O’Malley. The couple raised seven children together: Joseph, Marilee, Susan, John, Melanie, Betsy and Monica. He worked as a salesman, traveling throughout the Intermountain West.  After retirement, Joseph and Marion lived in Park City, Utah and later moved to Bellevue, Washington to be closer to their children. Joseph was an active member of the Cathedral of the Madeline.

Joseph Miller died on February 24, 2005.

Marion O’Malley Miller was born on August 13, 1916 to Walter Lee and Elizabeth O’Malley in Las Animas, Colorado. After her birth, the O’Malley Family moved to Salt Lake City. She graduated from St. Mary of the Wasatch in 1934. After high school graduation, Miller attended the University of Utah, majoring in Art.  While in college, she met and married Joseph Miller. The Millers raised their children in the Avenues. Marion was a member of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Altar Society and the Catholic Woman’s League.

Marion Miller died on April 3, 2008.

Filbert Salazar was born on May 2, 1933 to Tony and Stella Trujillo of McPhee Colorado and was raised by Maria Leonella and Tobias Salazar.  Early in life, he moved to Salt Lake City. He graduated from Judge Memorial High School and joined the Army, serving between 1953 and 1956. Before enlisting in the Army, he married Vera P. Kelly on October 10, 1953. Together, they raised eight children: Debbie, Cindy, Theresa, Michael, Elizabeth, Loretta, Geri Mary and Filbert. He was employed at Hill Air Force Base, LaMorena Café and Palace Meats. He was an active member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Salt Lake City.

As a child he had quite the routine!  (Fil) I'll tell you my schedule for the day when I was going to Judge.  We'd get up at six-thirty or six o'clock in the morning.  We'd get dressed, we'd go to church at seven o'clock at Guadalupe, go to Mass at seven o'clock in the morning, the whole family.  We'd go home, our mother would fix us up a little somethin'.  We'd take off, catch the bus and go up to Judge.  We'd get out of school, we'd come to Guadalupe mission for the catechism classes.  We'd finish the catechism classes, we'd go home, we'd have supper, get ready and either go to St. Patrick's, Guadalupe, or Sacred Heart for evening services, for either the novena at Sacred Heart or Guadalupe, Infant of Prague, or at St. Patricks's for Our Sorrowful Mother novena.  We did that seven days a week. (Wanda) No wait a minute Fil.  Now was this common among the people there, or was this your mother? (Fil) This is my mother.  it wasn't comon with everybody doing it, but there were quire a few.  There was a few that did, you know, go to church every day, I did that till I was, I'll bet you, I was seventeen years old.  That was every day we made the novenas, every novena First Fridays.  This wasn't something that our mother forced on us, she didn't say you got to, but we knew that this was what we were going to do, it was a routine.  It wasn't, you know, a drag, it was a routine, we looked forward to it.

Salazar died on February 20, 2017.

Diana Tsosie Taylor was born in Santa Clara Pueblo. Her father was a Navajo and her mother was Santa Clara Pueblo. She was raised in Rock Point, Arizona and Farmington, New Mexico. After the death of her father, Diana’s mother took a job at the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, Utah. Diana graduated from Box Elder High School in 1960. On March 3, 1961, Diana married Wayne Taylor in Brigham City, Utah.  Together Diana and Robert raised five children: Robert, Kenneth, Shon, Denece and Debbie. The Taylor Family moved to Taylorsville and later Kearns. Diana started teaching CCD at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns and eventually became a master catechist. Diana and her family were active members of the Catholic Native American Community.

On keep the traditions and culture alive, Diana explained, "My husband Bob, has always taught our children.  We've showed them our culture of all the tribes: the Santa Clara Pueblo, the Navajo (as much as we know about it), and the Northern Ute.  And we've tried to continue showing them as much of the reasons why we do the different dances.  As they grow up it's up to them as to whether they will continue.  This past summer we were down in New Mexico, as an example.  My children all performed the Harvest Dance, which is done during Santa Clara Feast Day, which is August 12th.  And that is a traditional dance.  It is not one that is social or that anybody can do.  You have to be a member of Santa Clara Pueblo to dance at it.  It was a very interesting experience for my children because for one of them it was the first time they'd danced, and the other two, it had been at least five years since they had danced the dance.  And it's something that I want them to know and to be able to pass on to their families and to their children.  Because we don't live in New Mexico, there's something that we have to make sure that we go down there and participate in, or it will be something that would be lost."

Diana’s husband Robert died on November 10, 2019.

Agnes Elizabeth Beauvais was born on March 31, 1902 to Julius and Anna Beauvais in Stillwater, Minnesota.  In 1911, the Beauvais’ Family moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where Julius found a job working in a hardware store. At this hardware store, Julius introduced an employee named Ermine Johnson to his daughter Anges. Ermine and Anges fell in love with each other and were married in 1928 at St. Leander’s Catholic Church. Shortly after their marriage, the Johnson’s moved to Salt Lake City. The Johnson’s became active members of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish.

Agnes Johnson died April 1, 1999.

From February 14 to March 6, 1989, Everett Cooley conducted several oral history interviews with Msgr. Jerome Stoffel (1910-2001), pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Logan, 1947-1977 and historian.

Msgr. Jermone Stoffel was born on June 1, 1910 in Salt Lake City to Charles and Marianne Stoffel. He attended Emerson and Cathedral Elementary schools and the Cathedral High School, graduating in 1928. In 1930, he entered St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, CA to study for the priesthood. On June 6, 1936, Bishop James E. Kearney ordained, Jerome Stoffel to the priesthood.  His early assignments included the Cathedral and Notre Dame Parish, Price. At the outbreak of World War II, Stoffel enlisted as an Army Chaplain, serving in Europe. On his return from the war, Bishop Duane Hunt named in pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Logan in 1947, retiring in 1977. In his retirement, Stoffel became the Diocean Historian and served as a chaplain for serveral organizations. 

Msgr. Stoffel died on May 13, 2001 at Christus St. Joseph Villa.

Read the Transcript: Jerome Stoffel, Salt Lake City, Utah: an interview by Everett L. Cooley