Claudia Van Orden Perkins

Claudia Van Orden Perkins passed away peacefully in her sleep the morning of April 29th 2015. Claudia was born February 12, 1944 in beautiful Cache Valley Utah. She was the oldest of three children with a younger sister and brother. Claudia married and had five children. The majority of her life was spent in Orem, Utah raising her children and being a friend to any teenager in need. Listening to their problems and offering a home cooked meal and even taking a few of them into her home. After a difficult marriage of 25 years, Claudia divorced and moved to Arizona for a few years where she worked in real estate. In order to be closer to family, she moved back to Utah where she pursued her bachelor's degree, graduating Cum Laude in 1998 from Brigham Young University in Social Work. During her studies she spent her time volunteering at the Women's Crisis Center and did an internship at the Family Support and Treatment Center. After graduation, she moved to Euless, Texas to be near her two sons. Continuing her education, she went on to get her Masters of Science in Social Work from University of Texas, and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. During this time, she worked at the Arlington Homeless Shelter where she gave counseling and life skills to homeless families. In 2004, with her LCSW in hand, she moved to Moab, Utah and worked for the state of Utah providing counseling and therapy for families. Upon retiring in 2010, she moved to Gilbert, Arizona to live with her son, Daniel, and be near many of her grandchildren. While in Gilbert, she volunteered at The House of Refuge providing life skills to homeless families. Claudia spent her life trying to help those around her find peace and happiness. Claudia was a member of the Church of Jesus of Latter Saints and found joy in her last few years of life attending the temple and doing family history. She always had time to listen to people's problems and give comforting words. She is preceded in death by her parents: Jay Dee and Virginia Van Order, her sister, Kathy O'Hara, and her son, David Perkins. She is survived by her brother, Jay Wallace Van Order, her children, Deborah Jean Perkins, Jennifer Eve Saavedra (Kelwin), Daniel Joseph Perkins (Melissa), and Rebekah Perkins, and her niece, Jenny Noonan (Sean). Her 11 grandchildren and 3 grandnieces will miss her fiercely, they were all her best friends. She was a loved mother, aunt, sister, and friend and will be missed. - See more at: http://www.meldrummortuary.com/obituary/Claudia-Van-Orden-Perkins/Gilbert-AZ/1504316#sthash.Rhv6e0R7.dpuf