Jodee Matsuda

Funeral Service Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98136021195 JODEE MATSUDA, 74, PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 23, 2026, IN LEHI, UTAH. SHE WAS BORN NOVEMBER 6, 1951, IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, TO ALONZO WELCHMAN AND CATHERINE NEERINGS. SHE GREW UP IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, WHERE HER FAMILY RELOCATED DURING HER FATHER’S LONG-TERM HOSPITALIZATION DUE TO POLIO. AT AGE 8, JODEE WAS BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. SHE WAS A PROUD ALUMNA OF SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL (SAMOHI), WHERE SHE SERVED AS A SONG LEADER. WHILE STUDYING AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, SHE STUDENT-TAUGHT ON A NAVAJO RESERVATION—AN EXPERIENCE THAT SHAPED HER LIFELONG LOVE OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST AND HER DEEP COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. AFTER EARNING HER DEGREE IN EDUCATION, SHE MARRIED HER HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, GARY STEVEN MATSUDA, ON JULY 27, 1974, IN THE LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA TEMPLE. AFTER BRIEFLY TEACHING IN SALT LAKE CITY, JODEE AND GARY LIVED ON THE EAST COASTÍ BEFORE SETTLING IN KANAGAWA, JAPAN, WHERE THEY SPENT 26 YEARS RAISING THEIR FAMILY. THERE, SHE TAUGHT ENGLISH, SUPPORTED HER CHILDREN’S EDUCATION AND MUSIC, AND SERVED FAITHFULLY IN CHURCH CALLINGS, INCLUDING RELIEF SOCIETY AND PRIMARY PRESIDENT IN THE YOKOSUKA BRANCH. A DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER, JODEE CREATED A HOME CENTERED ON FAITH, LEARNING, SERVICE, AND LOVE. SHE FILLED IT WITH MUSIC, BOOKS, MEANINGFUL TRADITIONS, AND A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR JAPANESE CULTURE, ALWAYS WELCOMING OTHERS WITH WARMTH AND GENEROSITY. SHE REGULARLY WORSHIPED IN THE TOKYO JAPAN TEMPLE AND LATER THE MOUNT TIMPANOGOS UTAH TEMPLE AFTER RETIRING TO CEDAR HILLS IN 2007. FOLLOWING GARY’S PASSING IN 2015, SHE SERVED AS A MISSIONARY IN THE ARKANSAS BENTONVILLE MISSION. JODEE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HER KINDNESS, LOVE OF MOTOWN MUSIC AND BYU SPORTS, APPRECIATION FOR BEAUTY, AND UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD AND DEVOTION TO HER FAMILY. SHE FOUND GREAT HAPPINESS IN SIMPLE MOMENTS—ESPECIALLY TIME SPENT WITH HER DOG, AUGGIE, WHO WAS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF LOVE AND COMFORT. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER CHILDREN: JAROM (SHELBY) OF SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH; ELISA (ADAM LIMÓN) OF CEDAR HILLS, UTAH; AMMON (KARA) OF THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA; AND LAUREL (KEITH OSAI) OF NORTH SALT LAKE, UTAH; HER SISTER, ROBIN GUMBRECHT; AND 15 GRANDCHILDREN. SHE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS; HER GRANDDAUGHTER, ALONA LIMÓN; AND HER HUSBAND, GARY MATSUDA.

Jodee Matsuda

November 6, 1951 - March 23, 2026