Verna May Larsen

Verna Larsen, beloved wife of the late Aage Larsen, passed away peacefully at the age of 79 years on September 16, 2014 after battling leukemia for 2 months. Verna was born on May 2, 1935 in Edwardstown, South Australia. She was predeceased by her husband, Aage Larsen; parents, Don and Lydia Crane; brothers Jimmy Crane, Don (Stella) Crane, Fred (Melva) Crane, a sister, Ivory (Wilford) Burrows. She is survived by her four children, Glen (Sabrina) Larsen of Issaquah, WA, Heather (Anthony) Lowry of Airdrie, AB, Peter (Lisa) Larsen of San Marcos, CA, and Joanne (Judd) Case of North Manchester, IN; fifteen grandchildren; and a brother, Wally (Sunny) Crane. After immigrating to Canada in 1949, she finished high school in Lethbridge and studied education at the University of Calgary for two years. She earned a teaching certification and taught elementary school. While working as a bank teller in Calgary, she met Aage Larsen, and the two were married in 1963. They were true partners in marriage: raising their children, renovating their home, traveling to Denmark, and caring for Aage full-time during his battle with cancer. Verna was an active, joyful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings: teacher of all ages, pianist, organist, missionary, genealogy specialist, and service leader. Most of all, she was a loving steward over her family and an advocate for the least visible and the most vulnerable of her fellow men. Verna’s family is grateful for compassionate care given by Dr. Louw and the staff at Santuari Hospice as well as Dr. Valentine, Dr. Goodyear and the Hematology Team along with the staff of Unit 57 of the Foothills Hospital. A Funeral Service will be held for Verna at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – North Stake Center (5927 Tipton Road NW, Calgary) on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Friends are invited to visit with the family prior to the Service from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Verna’s name to Santuari Hospice (c/o Calgary Health Trust, PLC Site Office, Room 1032, 3500 – 26 Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6J4 – Please include In Memory of Verna Larsen with donation).