Thelma Black Soares (85) of Orem, Utah died from complications of dementia on Saturday March 9, 2024. A graveside services is scheduled for Friday March 15, 2024 at 11:00AM at the Orem City Cemetery.

Thelma was born May 14, 1938 in Delta, Utah to Nels Clayton Black and Agnes Lavina Ludlow. She was the fourth and last child in the family with three older brothers (Val, Robert, and Paul). All three brothers served in WWII and Thelma (age 6-7) loved getting letters from her military brothers.

She graduated from Delta High School in 1956 and earned an English degree from BYU in 1960. While at BYU, Thelma sang in the BYU choir and travelled with them extensively. Following BYU, Thelma served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil where she became fluent in Portuguese which she continued to speak until her last days. It was while serving in Brazil that Thelma met her future husband Eraldo Soares. They eventually married and adopted two children, Paul and Lori. She tragically lost Lori in 2004 and long anticipated a heavenly reunion with her beloved daughter.

Thelma's career included working for a travel agency in Paris in the mid-1960's which allowed her to travel to many countries in Europe. While living in Fullerton, CA, she worked at home raising Paul and Lori and occasionally taught English at night school. In 1987 she moved to Orem Utah and worked for the BYU Philanthropy office as an executive secretary. She retired in 2008 at age 70.

Thelma was very active in The Church, had a beautiful voice, and loved to serve as the music and/or choir director. Her love for her family, her relatives (Super Bowl dinner for all the nieces and nephews attending school away from home), her heritage, her cats, and her Church were the mainstay of her life.

She is survived by her son (Paul), grandson (Bradley), generations of nieces and nephews, and extended family.

The family would like to thank the Windsor 1st ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their love and support of Thelma over the years. Also, many thanks to the Spring Gardens of Lindon care givers, nurses, doctors, and hospice persons that cared for her these past few months.