Our dear sister, Rosilene Swenson Capell, beloved mother, cherished daughter, loving aunt, and adored friend and teacher peacefully passed from this life and returned home to Heaven on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. At the time of her death, she had been residing at Elkridge Assisted Living Home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ross C Swenson and Ilene Taylor Swenson; her sister Merry (John Smith); and her darling daughter, Julie. She leaves behind two sisters: Patricia Palmer of Salem, Utah, and Lynda (Howard Davis) of West Mountain, Utah; along with two aunts, three uncles, many cousins, nephews and nieces, tons of friends, and countless numbers of students she taught.

All who knew her felt lifted and encouraged by her; she helped them feel cheerier, smarter, and loved. Rosilene had a vivacious, chipper personality. She was honest, hardworking, extremely talented, super intelligent, full of the spirit, and remarkably unbiased when it came to accepting, listening to, and loving just about everyone she met. She loved being funny, telling jokes and laughing with people.

Born to Ross and Ilene Swenson on June 5, 1949, in Provo, Utah, Rosilene was the first of four daughters. She grew up one block east of Main Street in Spanish Fork, attended Rees Elementary, Spanish Fork Middle, Junior High, and High School before heading off to college at Brigham Young University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Education, majoring in English with a minor in History. She earned her master’s degree from Utah State University. She also earned a degree in school counseling from University of Phoenix.

She began her teaching career in the Granite School District and then transferred to Alpine School District, where she taught at Lincoln and Lakeridge Junior High Schools, Mountain View High School, and Alpine Life and Learning. She also taught high school English for Utah’s Online High School. In addition to her public-school teaching, she was one of the four teachers hired by Utah State University to train groups of teachers in effective utilization of writing techniques across the curriculum.

Serving others was inherent in her nature. Rosilene was an accomplished pianist and organist and used these talents accompanying soloists, choirs, and singing groups. She was a teacher in, and President for, the Young Women, Primary song leader, and Relief Society teacher in various wards. She was a teacher at Especially For Youth (EFY) at Brigham Young University.

Rosilene took up jogging and became a marathon runner. She ran and finished several St. George Marathons, qualified and ran (with a broken leg) the Boston Marathon, she ran the Las Vegas and Avenue of Giants marathons as well as other marathons, half marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks. She was in excellent shape.

The summer of 1993 proved to be a turning point in Rosilene’s life. She was in a horrific traffic collision enroute to Cedar City, which left her in critical condition and necessitated a six-month stay at LDS Hospital. Working diligently over several years to overcome the limitations of a weakened body and with miracles, hope, and faith, she returned to the classroom to be a teacher, her life’s passion, once again. This time, she taught high school students in a TARGET “Teens At Risk Get Extra Time” program designed to benefit students who needed extra help in order to graduate.

As much as she loved and had mastered teaching curriculum, because of her injuries, she was also able to teach by example. She reached her at-risk students and motivated them in ways other teachers could not.

Rosilene had an indomitable spirit. She was a living example of never giving up. Her life lessons prove that you can do hard things and accomplish the impossible, if you work hard and turn to God.

After she retired, she served a mission to the Missionary Training Center (MTC), and attended the temple regularly, completing ten endowments each week for many years. Rosilene lived her beliefs and her strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ was felt more than merely heard.

Rosilene married Daniel Capell. They later divorced. They were the parents of Julie Capell, who was her greatest joy.

We love you, forever, Rosilene.

Memorial Service

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Spanish Fork, Utah Walker Mortuary

187 S Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah

Viewing 10:00am

10:45am Family (and close friends) prayer

11:00am Funeral Services

Burial at Salem, Utah Cemetery

965 S 140 E

Salem, Utah