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When Juanita graduated from the 8th grade, that was the end of her schooling as it was the most students did in those days.
It was a happy time as the four oldest were very close. They went horseback riding as the family had horses at that time. They also attended dances, where at midnight a supper was served. In later years, just Juanita, her grandmother and a cousin would go. Juanita and her grandmother would heat a curling iron inside the chimney of a lamp or a marcel iron heated in a wood stove to curl their hair.
In 1926 her dad was killed in an automobile accident. Her brother had to quit school and find work where ever or what ever he could. Juanita’s mother took in washings that had to be done on a wash board. The water was carried in buckets from the spring and heated on the wood stove. Juanita took it upon herself to get the wood in. She would cut and saw it and Vincin would find someone with a truck to haul it to the house where we all helped to unload and stack it.
We had two cows and Juanita milked and cared for them.
In the late 1920s or early 30s she went to work for a lady that served chicken and ravioli dinners on the weekends. Her job included to help kill and dress the chickens, assist in the preparation of cooking, serving the food and then clean up.
Around 1931-32 she was introduced to Burnell Sessions and they were married November 22, 1933, in Reno, Nevada. Shortly after, they moved to Livermore, California, then to San Francisco, California where Donald was born on March 6, 1935. They moved back to Avery, then to Vallecito where Russell was born in Sonora, California, May 22, 1937. They then moved to Murphys, California where they lived until 1941, then moved to Big Bend, California, located near Burney in Shasta County. When that job was completed Todd gave Juanita the choice of staying in California or moving to Utah to make their home. They went to Helper to work in the mines, then to Heber City, Utah.
Juanita was a short order cook at Chicks Café at one time.
The family was the focus of her life as well as Burnells.
Juanita was so tiny, not even 5 feet tall, yet such a mighty person. Her desire to serve others brought many friends. She was always willing to help. Her home was open to all and many people visited and stayed with them. She taught her children correct principles, was a good cook and served healthy meals, and always kept a clean home. Her crocheting was absolutely beautiful, and her other handwork was always outstanding. Juanita loved to make things for other people. She spent hours crocheting a bedspread for a wedding present for one of Todd's nieces when she was married and made a scarf to match it.
Her later life was evolved around the grand and great grand children. They always went to any activity they were in, they helped them, loved them and made them so welcome when they came to visit. Donald’s children lived across the street and always made a B-line to their door. Juanita taught Blanche to crochet and other things. Howard went on trips with them, camping, fishing, to Idaho. How they loved to be together.
She loved going to church and participating in Relief Society. She wanted so much for her family to be an eternal one. She went camping and fishing with Todd, did everything together as a team. Her former bishop talked at her funeral and stated he felt she was an angel who was always willing to help anyone she could and he praised her highly for the woman she was. How proud her family can be of her and how she raised them. She is greatly missed. Family came from all over to attend her funeral, to pay their last respects to her. She was lonesome for Burnell when he left. She had spent months staying at home and caring for him and doing all she could, often wondering if there was something more she could do to make him more comfortable. She would not leave the house. It was no wonder that she died on the same day just one year later, and almost at the same time that he did. They had been together most of their lives and it was important that they stay together in death, as a family unit. Their lives were not complete without each other.