Neena Ashton

1948 - 2025

Neena Diumenti Ashton

In Loving Memory

Salt Lake City, UT-Following a brief illness and surrounded by family, Neena Diumenti Ashton left this world peacefully. She lived a life of beauty and intention--defined by grace, generosity, and an unwavering belief in the dignity of purpose.

Born at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake to George & Helen Diumenti, Neena grew up in Bountiful, where her love of nature began in the resilience of Utah's seasons. She attended Rowland Hall and the University of Utah, earning a master's in education.

Following university, Neena met the love of her life. Her partnership with John transformed her in ways both quiet and profound. In the early years, they wrote letters across distances; later, they explored the world with a spirit of adventure and trust in life's surprises. Their home and garden was the foundation of a marriage spanning fifty-two years--a partnership built on lifelong learning and a shared devotion to living with intention, generosity, and family.

Neena began her professional career as a teacher at Fortuna Elementary before founding New Orientation, a retail store and bridal registry that became a beloved institution across Utah. For forty years, NewO was more than a shop--it was a gathering place. Generations of women began, transformed, or reinvented their creative and professional lives alongside Neena.

The store reflected her rare eye for beauty and her conviction that spaces--like people--flourish when nurtured. Her taste was unmistakable, her standards high, her warmth genuine and impossible to overlook.

She modeled how artistry could live not only in objects but in moments of connection, both simple and sophisticated.

Her devotion to others extended far beyond her business. Neena contributed her time, energy, and leadership across organizations over the years--including service on the boards of Red Butte Garden, Rowland Hall St. Marks, United Way, Junior League of Salt Lake City, and the University of Utah's Educational Resource Development Council.

As president of Town Club, she championed civic engagement and community preservation through her disarming blend of style and substance. Those who worked beside her often spoke of Neena's true refinement and resolve--a woman equally at home tending flowers in her garden as she was guiding a boardroom.

Neena's truest gift, however, was love. She was a devoted wife, sister, mother, and grandmother--the steady heart and inspiration around which her family revolved.

Her husband, John, was her constant companion. Together they raised three children--Alex, Tony, and Sophia--and found endless joy in the seven grandchildren who adored their NeeNee. To her family, Neena was both compass and calm: life's reminder that how you do anything is how you do everything.

We will remember Neena's elegance, her empathy, and the bold humility that grows from living one's values every day. She admired those who approached life with principle and tenacity, and she believed that beauty, in all its forms, calls us to be thoughtful--to one another and to the world.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Red Butte Garden, a place Neena loved for its shifting seasons and role as a community gathering place. Supporting the Garden ensures that its beauty and public access continue for all who seek it.

A family service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City.

One of Neena's greatest joys was creating meaningful experiences for others. A celebration of her life will be held in the Orangerie at Red Butte Garden on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In the light of spring, we will gather to celebrate the grace and love Neena cultivated throughout her life. All are welcome.