Jacqueline Grace Pace

With the love and care of her family and friends comforting her, our mother, Jacqueline Grace Archer Prietzel Pace, passed away at her home on Sept. 25th, 2026.

Mom was born July 12, 1944, at home in Ruislip, Middlesex, England, to Frederick and Grace Archer. She was the youngest of five children and the only girl, with four older brothers, Fred, Peter, Gerald, and Ray. Even though life eventually took her far from England, she remained close to her brothers. She was able to visit them in England several times, spent time with them on trips to California and Florida, and loved when they came to visit her in Utah. More recently, she enjoyed video calls with Ray and Viv, which gave her a chance to visit with family even from so far away.

As a girl, Mom was shy, loved to read, and loved family vacations near the ocean. Her love of the ocean stayed with her for the rest of her life. As a young woman, she worked at Barclays Bank on Ruislip High Street.

Mom married Harry Franklin Prietzel, on July 6, 1963, in Ruislip Manor, Middlesex, England. Harry was American, and in 1965 Mom immigrated to the United States with him. They first lived in Laredo, Texas, before moving to Bountiful, Utah. Mom joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she and Harry were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on May 25, 1971. Together they had four children: Matthew, Michelle, Benjamin, and Jenifer.

Harry passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 28, 1973, leaving Mom a young widow with four small children, ages seven, five, three, and one. During those years, she met her best friend Diane, another single mom with children around the same ages. They became lifelong friends, and Diane became family. Along with Diane and her husband, Glade, our families shared years of birthdays, holidays, camping trips to Lava Hot Springs, and a lot of memories.

Mom met Melvin Pace at a church dance. Her version of the story was simple: “He winked at me and that was it!” Mom and Dad were married on Dec. 13, 1975, in Bountiful, Utah. They later had our little brother Jeremy and moved to Farmington, where they raised our family.

Mom worked for many years at Bountiful Family Physicians. She was also busy raising five kids and somehow keeping a home that was always beautifully decorated and, of course, tidy. Growing up, we heard “tidy up your room” more than a few times.

She was such a great mom. When we were young, Mom sewed clothes for us, not to mention the costumes and leotards. In the summers, she took us swimming several times a week. Every Saturday morning, she taught us responsibility with a list of chores for all of us kids before she would let us run out to play. There were many family trips to Mt. Timpanogos, Nephi and beach houses in Balboa Beach, California. On camping trips she loved playing cards under the light of the lanterns, and she definitely had a competitive side when there was a game to be won. On Balboa trips she always had to get her "Balboa Bar" ice cream dipped in chocolate.

She was famous in the family for her homemade dinner rolls. She always made plenty to make sure we all had at least a couple, and a few extra so her grandsons could eat more than a few!

She loved caring for her flower gardens in the spring and summer and enjoyed having beautiful flowers around her home. Her favorite colors were purple and blue, which often found their way into her clothes and home.

Mom especially loved dogs and had many very spoiled and pampered dogs over the years. She also loved her treats. It was pretty common for an outing to end with, “Can we stop for a treat?” Chocolate and cookies were favorites, and a Diet Coke was a must.

The ocean was always her happy place. She and Dad eventually bought a condo in Panama City Beach, Florida, and spent many vacations there. Mom loved sharing it too, inviting friends and family to come stay and enjoy Florida with them.

Although Utah became her home, Mom was always proud of being from England. We loved when someone would hear her accent and ask where she was from because she would light up and happily tell them she was from England.

Mom was generous to a fault, kind, loving, and always tried to see the good in people. It was rare to hear her say a cross word about anyone. When she was happy to see you, her bright smile made it clear how genuinely happy she was that you were there.

Surprisingly to her grandkids, Mom was very funny, often when you least expected it. Every once in a while, she would come out with a joke or a sarcastic comment that would catch everyone completely off guard, always followed by surprised laughter from her kids and grandkids.

She loved having her hair brushed and played with, and while curled up on the couch watching TV with her family—and reading a book at the same time—she would ask the kid nearest to her to play with her hair.

Mom loved having a lie-in, the British way of saying she enjoyed sleeping in. We will miss her calling us “Love” and asking if we fancied something.

Mom and Dad moved to Layton in 2019. As Dad’s dementia progressed, Mom became his caregiver and spent years putting his needs ahead of her own. They could often be found sitting together on their couch holding hands. After all their years together, the love between them was still easy and so sweet to see.

Over the years, Mom became a grandma to many grandkids, great-grandkids, and several step-grandkids. To many of her grandkids, she was known as Nannie.

Mom was blessed with many wonderful friends, neighbors, and ward members who cared for her and her family. We are especially grateful to Kris, who has been an incredible friend and blessing to Mom; her Atlas Hospice caretakers, Ashley, Cecy, and Alyssa, who showed us all so much compassion; and the many neighbors and ward members who brought meals, stopped by to visit, and simply showed up when we needed them.

A special thank you goes to our older sister, Michelle, who spent countless hours helping Mom, taking her to doctor’s appointments, and being there to give her the emotional support she needed through such a difficult time. Having Michelle there meant more than we can say.

Mom is survived by her husband, Melvin Pace; her children, Matthew Prietzel (Luann), Michelle Holje (Spencer), Benjamin Prietzel, Jenifer Prietzel, and Jeremy Pace (Kacey); her brothers Peter Archer of Australia and Ray Archer (Viv) of England; 16 grandkids, 15 great-grandkids, several step-grandkids, and many friends and family who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Grace Archer; her first husband, Harry Franklin Prietzel; and her brothers Fred and Gerald Archer.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Russon Mortuary, 1941 N Main Street Farmington, Utah from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Graveside Services will be held at the Farmington City Cemetery, 200 E 500 S, Farmington, Utah on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory YouTube page on on this obituary.