Colleen Jannette Carlsen

Colleen Jannette Carlsen, 82, died on June 13, 2018 in West Jordan, Utah of age related causes in the home where she spent the last 6 months of her life surrounded with love, laughter, and happiness.
She was born January 5, 1936 in Murray, Utah.
Colleen was a light to everyone who knew her and everyone she met. She had the brightest smile and the most beautiful, happy face—along with the most positive, joyful outlook on life. It was a pleasure to be around her.
Colleen graduated from Murray High School in 1954. She served two stake missions in 1950 and 1957 and went on a mission to Oregon in the Northwestern States Mission in 1959. She loved serving the Lord, loved the people of Oregon, and her mission companions, and loved the gospel.
She enjoyed her jobs at JC Penny and at Canada Life Insurance. She also willingly and happily, spent countless hours with her parents as they took care of the needs of her sister. She loved Sylvie, “daddy”, and “momma” more than anything.
She was an avid genealogist who (along with her aunt) published a book about some of the ancestors on her father’s side of the family. Her Swedish heritage on her mother’s side of the family also meant a lot to her. It was fun to listen to her tell stories about her ancestors. She organized and produced fantastic and fun-filled family reunions for both sides of her family that brought relatives back together and left everyone with great memories and lasting relationships.
She loved her friends, relatives, and family so much. If a person was not part of her family, it didn’t matter—to her they became family and she would do anything to serve, help and love them. Her favorite greeting was “I gotta have a hug.” She loved hugs and would take as many as she could get from anyone who came to visit her. Babysitting some of her cousin’s children earlier in their lives left them with lasting memories of the care she gave them and the fun they were able to have with her (and her friend Glenna). She touched so many lives in countless ways and it is impossible to mention everyone, but you know who you are if you have sweet memories of our angel, Colleen.
She was always eager to go shopping and out to lunch to have fried green tomatoes at Archibald’s, pork chops and mashed potatoes and gravy at Virg’s, bread pudding at Famous Dave’s—or just about anything anywhere—just to be able to go. If there was a way to get away with it, she would have eaten mashed potatoes and gravy, or chicken noodle soup, as well as Ritz crackers and butterscotch candy every single day.
Her greatest honor and joy was having Bridger, Brexton, Brintley, Jayden, Carter, and Ezra consider her their “Grandma Colleen.” She was the best adopted grandmother to Jereme and Tassie, Kjersti and Mark, and Tyler and would do anything for them. As Karen spent the last 15 amazing years helping Colleen, having fun with her, and serving her, Colleen became a very dear friend and like a second mother. We all love her to pieces and will miss her so much.
We know that she is overjoyed with the reunion she is having with her father, Oliver Carlsen, her mother, Lillie Carlsen, her sister, Slyvia and all of the family, relatives, friends, and ancestors that preceded her in death. She is out of pain and can finally see whatever there is to see in Heaven! She must be giggling with happiness just to be able to do that.
In lieu of flowers, Colleen has requested that donations be made at Primary Children’s Hospital in her honor.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan Utah, 84123, in the chapel. The viewing will precede the funeral which is at 1 PM at the same location. The graveside service will immediately follow the funeral.
Service Information
Viewing June 19, 2018 at 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery, 6500 south Redwood Road, West Jordan Utah, 84123





Funeral Service
June 19, 2018 at 2:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery, 6500 south Redwood Road, West Jordan Utah, 84123