Claudia Lee Fosdick Borden
Claudia Lee Fosdick Borden
April 1, 1942 – September 15, 2022
Claudia was born on the Mare Island Naval Base, Vallejo, California. She is the daughter and only child of Walter Ceaser Fosdick and Dorothy Norma Garrido. While pregnant with Claudia, her mother was shipped back to California from Honolulu with other Navy wives in February 1942 after the attack at Pearl Harbor. Her father was in the Pacific fighting WWII at the time of her birth. She did not meet her father until she was 2 years old when his ship sailed to California.
Although Claudia grew up in humble circumstances, she was well-loved by her parents and grandparents. When her father was discharged from the Navy, they moved to San Jose, California where she attended Lowell Elementary School, and then later to Fresno, California where she attended Alexander Hamilton Jr High. As a 12-year-old, she was invited by two friends to go to “Girls Camp”. Ever resourceful, she checked out a copy of “The Book of Mormon” at the library before camp and started reading. It was at camp that she learned of Joseph Smith and gained a testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Claudia was 13 years old when her father died in a car accident. Soon thereafter, her mother allowed her to be baptized. She and her mother moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area to San Lorenzo and then to Hayward. She attended Arroyo and Hayward High Schools. When Claudia’s mother remarried, 16-year-old Claudia went to board with her friend’s family – The Shumates. While living there, she was always able to attend church services and youth “Mutual” activities. She finished high school and worked for Macy’s Department Store.
Claudia married Gary L. Borden on Sept 2, 1961, but later divorced. Five children came from her marriage: Tiffany Flathers (Michael), Lisa Hodson (Robert), Christina Vanfleet (Richard), Tara Walsh (Wen Minkoff) and Jason Borden. She is survived by her 5 children and their spouses as well as one granddaughter: Chloe Flathers Garfield (Jayden); six grandsons: Drew Flathers, Ryan Vanfleet, Austin Vanfleet, Chase Vanfleet (Elizabeth), Daniel Vanfleet, Wyatt Vanfleet; and 3 great-grandchildren: Gavin Garfield, Lily Garfield, and Isabelle Garfield.
Claudia had several occupations throughout her life which included dental assistant, picture framer, in-home florist, real estate agent, financial assistant, master gardener at Thanksgiving Point Garden Center and Highland Gardens, as well as owner and confectioner of “The Brittle Barn” – a home business from which her peanut brittle was widely regarded. However, her greatest occupation and accomplishment was that of being a mother and a homemaker.
Creativity was part of her soul. She blessed many lives as she generously shared her talents with all that knew her. She earned a master gardener certification and kept a beautiful yard. She learned flower arranging and loved having many flowers both in her home and yard. In the 1970’s-80’s, she owned an in-home floral business and serviced many weddings. Claudia was an excellent cook and baker. Her lemon meringue pies will not be forgotten. She learned to sew as a matter of necessity as a teenager so that she could afford to wear pretty things. Claudia won awards for her sewing projects, including an award from Macy’s Department Store for her wedding dress. She sewed clothing for herself and her daughters for many decades. She also enjoyed painting, making homemade dolls, interior decorating, and an abundance of other creative interests.
Always happy to serve others, Claudia accepted various callings to serve in the church throughout the years. She worked with the youth in the Young Women program, women in Relief Society, as a ministering sister, and for many years as a Family History Consultant.
Genealogy was a favorite interest for Claudia which she was introduced to as a teenager. She diligently worked on her own family history and discovered thousands of her ancestors over the next 60 years. Family History was a major part of her life’s work and one that she felt called to do. We are certain that her “Welcome Home Party” on the other side will include many, many of those ancestors.
Growing up in California, Claudia spent most of her life living in various cities in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Port Hueneme and Fresno. After raising her children in Dublin, California for 27 years, she moved to Alpine, Utah in 1994 where she has been a resident for the past 28 years.
Claudia loved her neighbors, friends, and ward members of the Alpine 9th Ward. She held so many dear to her heart. Over the past 28 years, she had such kind ministering brothers and ministering sisters who visited and served her. She was especially thrilled when her ward friends threw an 80th birthday party for her earlier this year. She cherished her friendships.
Claudia’s children and grandchildren love her dearly and feel so blessed to have her as their mother and grandmother. She was a covenant-keeping woman who followed the example of her Savior. She truly was a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Funeral services for Claudia will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 2:00 pm in the Alpine 9th Ward Chapel, located at 901 East Village Way, Alpine, Utah. Family and friends may call on Saturday afternoon from 12:30-1:30 pm prior to services at the church. Interment will follow services at the Alpine City Cemetery. The funeral service will be streamed on the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87865607568