Penny Elizabeth Snow

Our dear mother, partner and Nana passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Friday, May 16th, 2025. Penny was a bright light to all who encountered her. Her laugh was infectious and she had a tremendous childlike wonder for simple things. She cared for beings large and small, from her beloved grandchildren to  mischievous squirrels. She fed all of us: orange rolls, for her family, peanuts for the scrub jays, and in the spring hummingbird food was on the stove within minutes of the first sighting of one of her small friends. She knew how to mark an occasion with a table setting and a beautiful outfit. She loved a dirty joke and she loved her wine and cigarettes.

Penny was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Charles (Dusty) and Elizabeth (Betty) Rhodes. She was the second child of seven. She graduated  West High School in 1966 and soon after, married Jack Snow. She and Jack had two daughters, Portia and Tricia. Penny and Jack divorced in 1980 after which, she worked fiercely and raised her two girls on her own.

In 1992, Jim Robertson moved in across the street. She invited him over for crab dinner and the two fell head over heels for one another. They filled a place in each other’s hearts that had been empty for some time. They developed a loving companionship and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. They were soul mates. They especially loved traveling together. New York, South Beach, Key West, Hawaii, Charleston, and Savannah and New Orleans for the Utes Sugar Bowl win were some of their favorite trips. Carlsbad, CA was their special place. In Salt Lake, they attended the theater, and enjoyed dining out. They created a beautiful home together and enjoyed their 5 o’clock wine on their patio. On April 30 of this year, they celebrated 33 years together.

Penny found beauty in the ordinary; flowers, birds and drawbridges. She loved cooking, gardening, music and visiting with friends. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Penny was always moving. She worked hard her entire life. She was a phlebotomist at IHC for 46 years. For many of those years, she was a supervisor at Cottonwood Hospital. She took great pride in her work and derived much joy from it. She loved her co-workers and her patients. She had a talent for finding veins where it seemed there were none to be found and had patients request her personally.

Penny is survived by her lifetime partner, Jim Robertson, her daughters, Portia Snow (Dee Brewer) and  Tricia Snow, Grandchildren Bella Simone Brewer, Rehan Nuer Chier, Nellie Donna Elizabeth Snow, her siblings Michael Rhodes, Sheila Bringhurst, John Rhodes and  Cherie Rhodes. Her beloved cat Maggie, dear friends Sue and Gary Forsgren, Rick Bryan and Brenda Rosenblatt. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Lisa Rhodes.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 12 PM until 2 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East in Salt Lake City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in her name be made to Best Friends Animal Society https://bestfriends.org/salt-lake-city or Street Dawg Crew of Utah https://www.streetdawgcrew.org/