Roger John Day

Roger was born in Boise, Idaho to Robert L Day and Charlotte L. Day.

Bob and Charlotte took their beautiful baby boy home and put him under the Christmas Tree for his Sister Pamela Sue (Pavelek) and his brother Timothy Robert. Tim had given them explicit instructions to bring home a Boy one or bring home nothing! Roger spent 69 years on God’s earth in an extremely loving and devoted Christian family. Roger loved people and had many friends. He did very well in school, and had 2 years in university. He loved art, music, snow and water skiing. and raising animals. The last years were very difficult as Roger dealt with a physical illness that eventually left him paralyzed and living in a wheelchair.

We would like to thank the ANGELS of Life Care of Boise for their loving care of Roger for five years and also the Staff of Good Samaritan Nursing home for five years before they closed in 2021.

Roger is survived by sister Pam Day Pavelek, Richard Pavelek, Tim Day, Deborah Day, Nephew Robert Pavelek, Niece Nicole Pavelek Houston, Beau Houston, and their daughter Kieda Houston. Cousins, Ben Day, Donna Day Jacobs, David Day, Dan Day, Donna Day, John Day, Patrick Barr, Jay Barr, Janis Solders, Judy Rickets.

Roger passed away peacefully at St Alphonsus emergency after suffering a stroke. Pam, Tim, and Richard witnessed Fr Jerry Funke confirm and anoint Roger before he passed into the Arms of Jesus.

Letter to Roger from Brother Tim

Dear Roger,

Always supported with the twinkle of your eye, I miss the eruption of your giant smile. The courageous manner you conducted yourself while imprisoned in a hurt body and wheelchair, inspired our collective selves. You never showed jealousy and anger about your compromised life of pain and disability; instead, you produced beautiful art and made friends who adored you. We all knew you thought of others before you thought of yourself. I remember for example, when we were young boys, the time when you took the blame for spilling the milk in the refrigerator when I was the one who had done the spilling. You spared me at the expense of yourself so I would not receive the deserved consequences. You conducted the rest of your life with similar fortitude towards others. You gave freely with humble wisdom. You gave often without knowing how wise you were. The love of birds and nature sourced your wisdom and inspired you to treat others with kindness.

You, Pam our sister, and I were blessed with great loving parents. Our mother and father kept us safe, happy, and whole. You embodied their character. Even though you are gone from the physical presence of this world, your spirit forever holds to Pam and I. Roger, you will be missed.

Tim

Letter to Roger from Sister Pam

My dear brother Roger,

You and I had a beautiful love for each other beginning with the day mom and dad brought you home from the hospital and put you under the Christmas tree. You were without a doubt the best Christmas present ever, a living doll! You were such a beautiful happy and loving little brother. You were very unhappy when I went away to college. I will never forget the day a came home on a Greyhound bus and you were jumping up and down at the door. I was excited to see you too! You were a very talented person in art and music. You loved Architecture and we enjoyed having you visit us in Vancouver BC. You helped us with drafting in our design studio. All our friends loved you very much. I think you were the most Joyful while floating through the snow on a beautiful mountain or loving your horses on your small ranch near Kuna.

Roger, I was so sad when you became sick. I watched you slowly become less able to do all the things you loved to do. You were such a good sport about your condition. You were an example of what it means to accept one’s state in life on this earth and make the best of it. You never expressed resentment that we were enjoying things in life that you could not do. Every time I visited you in the nursing home I was reminded of what true courage is all about.

You loved Architecture and “God Almighty”! You wanted to go to mass with us at the beautiful Cathedral of ST. John the Evangelist! A few months ago you asked me to bring Fr Jerry Funke to visit you because you wanted to become Catholic.

On January 23 the lord was ready to bring you home. He made sure Fr. Jerry was available to confirm you in the Catholic church and anoint you and send you directly to Almighty God; Father Son and Holy Spirit!

We know you are with us today in this beautiful cathedral of St John the evangelist with all the people who truly love you!

You are out of pain and the bonds of a wheelchair. We rejoice that you are in the loving arms of Jesus.

And I will never stop loving you!

Pam

A memorial mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. John's the Evangelist.