Pabla "Lita" Amanda Hamby

Pabla (Lita) Amanda Palomeque Hamby died on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at her home surrounded by loved ones. Lita was born in January 1948, the oldest daughter of Alba Sanchez and Armando Palomeque in Cordoba, Argentina. She was an imaginative child and adored her younger siblings, Luis, Liliana, and Claudia. At 14, Lita became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1967, she met the love of her life, Everett Hamby, while he was serving an LDS mission in Argentina. Lita immigrated to the United States and married Everett in 1968. Lita and Everett had seven children when on New Year’s Day 1980, Everett was killed in Salt Lake City. Despite tremendous odds, Lita not only survived but thrived in her new role as sole provider. Lita married Tom Hamby in 1981 and they had a son a year later. Lita was a proud and hardworking woman, she cleaned homes and businesses, catered events, and cared for elderly people in their homes. It is staggering to consider that in spite of her challenging circumstances, Lita remained such a loving, cheerful, and optimistic woman and fiercely devoted mother. Lita was an amazing cook and did it with great love and affection, making everything exquisite. In 1996, Lita began working for the Salt Lake County Health Department as a medical interpreter. She forged strong and lasting friendships with her coworkers and became a trusted resource to the clients and medical professionals at the clinic. She fostered a special love for children with special needs and their families, and eventually became a care coordinator at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She was an unstoppable advocate for her clients and went above and beyond her duties to ensure they received the care and support they needed. If not for her cancer, Lita would have continued working for many more years because of her passionate commitment to serve and love this community. Lita expressed gratitude for her cancer because it allowed her to slow down and spend her precious time with family and friends. She also knew that since her cancer was a part of her, it would doggedly work to do what it was intended to do. Her family and friends rallied around her during the last months of her life and it was the honor of a lifetime to serve such a remarkable woman. May we all have someone like Lita in our lives and may we strive to shed love and light on those around us like Lita did.

Lita was preceded in death by her greatest love, Everett, and her mother and father. She is survived by her three siblings; eight children: Chris, Daniel (Tina), Lisa, Jessica (Hank), Vanessa, Tony (Meredith), Patty (Joe), and Tommy (Jason); and 17 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the South Main Clinic Pediatrics Gift Fund, a cause near and dear to Lita’s heart (bit.ly/2gOQRuj).

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 10am at the LDS Chapel located at 4366 South 1500 East, Millcreek, Utah. Friends and family may visit from 9-9:45am prior to the service. Interment will follow at Elysian Burial Gardens.

Funeral Service Audio