Charlotte Schovaers

Charlotte Irene Schovaers

1927 ~ 2025

Charlotte Irene Helbling Schovaers passed away on November 1, 2025, at the age of 98 at home in a room filled with love, sunshine, warmth and family (a few of her favorite things) – having just been on the golf course eight days earlier. A beautiful ending to a beautiful story of a beautiful woman.

Charlotte was the sixth of eight children born to Arthur Helbling and Clementine Ressler Helbling in 1927, in Dickinson, North Dakota. The family moved to Moscow, Idaho, shortly thereafter and this is where Charlotte grew up. She left Moscow to attend Seattle University where, as she would say with a laugh, she was seeking her Mrs. degree. It was a successful venture, and she graduated with honors as Mrs. Leon Schovaers.

In 1952, Leon's work with Sperry Gyroscope took the family to Ventura, California. In 1957 they moved to Salt Lake City, where for the next 30+ years they set up roots, raised six children, engaged in the community, and successfully started and ran a prosperous family business, Schovaers Electronics.

In 1986, they retired to Palm Desert, California, to spend their golden years enjoying the fruits of their labors.

Charlotte was always generous to those in need. She spent numerous hours (both in Salt Lake City and Palm Desert) visiting with the elderly in facilities and in their homes. It brought her great joy, satisfaction and a sense of purpose.

Charlotte was a wonderful mother, greeting her children each morning while rousing them out of bed singing a rendition of "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning ..." This was her spirit in all she did and it touched everyone around her.

Charlotte enjoyed a very active lifestyle. She was an avid tennis player, but her many days spent transporting and supporting her children in numerous Intermountain region tennis matches (often nail biters) was her true legacy.

In 1970, the Utah Tennis Association presented her with a trophy engraved with "Tennis Mother of the Year". Based on her reaction, it may as well have been the Wimbledon Championship plate.

Charlotte also delighted in golfing, describing herself, without hesitation, as "a very good putter."

Her passion, later in life, became riding her bike. She exuberantly cycled, often with reckless abandon, the roadways and sidewalks of the Palm Desert area, where she lived for over 30 years. It was only at the age of 90 that she was forced to stop riding due to "less than steady" balance. She often spoke, with eager anticipation, of getting back in the saddle when she arrived at heaven's gate.

A lifelong and devout Catholic, Charlotte was a member of St. Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City and Sacred Heart Parish in Palm Desert.

Charlotte is survived by her six children, Bob (Kim) Schovaers, John Schovaers, Mary Jane Schovaers, Susan (Eric) Heusser, Judy (Bob) Green and Barbara Schovaers (Steve Jackson), as well as seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon, and her entire generation of family.

In addition to a funeral mass, a Celebration of Life will be held for Charlotte's friends and family in the summer of 2026, with wine and marshmallow roasting (two additional pleasures). To a life well-lived …

Arrangements are entrusted to Starks Funeral Parlor. Please share your memories and photos with her family at www.starksfuneral.com