Ella (Synnestvedt) Raventos

Ella Synnestvedt Raventos, treasured wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away in the very early hours of Sunday, November 25th, 2018. She battled a brief, but serious illness and slipped into eternity at the age of 72 surrounded by family in Provo, Utah.

Ella was born in Bergen, Norway on October 9, 1946, to Erling and Ella Synnestvedt.  She moved to America at age 12 where she later attended East High School, Brigham Young University and University of Utah. Ella married William Alan Raventos, a recently returned missionary that served in Norway for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on August 25, 1967, in the Salt Lake City temple.  They had five children. Ella and Bill began their married life in Utah, but later raised their family in Michigan, Florida, Indiana and New Jersey before returning to Utah again.  They have spent 19 of the past 25 years in Pleasant Grove, Utah and have since relocated to Mapleton, Utah, where they currently reside.

For ten years, Ella worked as the Registrar at Pleasant Grove High School. She also worked at Deseret Book in both Orem and more recently Spanish Fork, Utah. She loved the people she worked with and will surely be known for the bright spot she was in all the lives she touched. In the community, Ella was actively involved in the PTA during her children’s school years. As a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ella served in many ward and stake callings. For the past 4 years, Ella served as a temple worker in the Payson, Utah temple. Of all the places she loved, the temple ranked at the top.

Ella loved hiking and outdoor walks in the sun. She loved attending different events her grandchildren were involved in. She enjoyed regular lunches and outings with her sisters and old East High girlfriends. She loved reading good books, especially the scriptures. She was loyal and true to BYU, watching a BYU game on her phone even as they admitted her to the hospital.  She loved her homeland of Norway – visiting many times throughout her life – with her dear husband, by herself, with her sisters, with her daughters, and with her grandchildren. Of Ella’s many virtues, a few she will surely be known by are her genuine kindness and her integrity.

Ella’s life was defined by her service, her faith and her love for her family.  All who knew her have either witnessed her service or have been served by her. She always put others before herself. This was surely tied to Ella’s faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Her faith was the compass to her life. It directed her thoughts, her actions, and her intentions. Ella’s ultimate joy was her family.  She loved Bill, her children, and grandchildren with a fervent and abiding love. She was masterful at creating family memories.  She invested much in helping each child and grandchild, individually, feel her love. To know Ella was to love Ella.

Ella is survived by her loving husband, William Alan Raventos, and her five children: Pete Raventos, Susan (Bill) Holman, Micah (Jenny) Raventos, Allyson (Jon) Frampton, and Nicholas (Shaylee) Raventos.  She and Bill have 23 treasured grandchildren.

A public viewing will be held Wednesday, November 28th from 6-8 pm at Wheeler Mortuary, 82 West 400 North, Mapleton, Utah. A viewing will also be held from 9:45 – 10:45 am the morning of the funeral.  Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, November 29, 2018, at the Harvest Park Chapel, 1068 South 1600 West Hwy 89, Mapleton, Utah.

Interment:  Mapleton Cemetery.