Janice Christensen Jensen February 23, 1933 - March 28, 2024

Our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and teacher ( Professor) Janice Christensen Jensen, age 91, passed away on March 28, 2024. A few months ago after Janice broke a few ribs from a fall requiring a stay at Aspen Ridge, Lee told us that there was something seriously wrong with his bedtime routine. He then stretched out his arm, pointed at the empty space in the bed and told us, we needed to see what we can do to make it so “Janice is lying right here in my arms!” We are pretty sure that 8 days in Heaven, alone, was too many, and Lee talked God into letting him come down to Earth to gather Janice up! We have no doubt, Janice is in Lee’s arms and they are again Janice and Lee, together forever! Janice and Lee were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 17, 1956.

Janice was born on February 23, 1933. Her arrival was a difficult one for her mother Ida and for little baby Janice. The doctors and nurses thought they had lost Janice, she was blue and not doing well and Ida was struggling. So they laid baby Janice over to the side wrapped in a blanket while they went to work to save Ida. Mat Christensen went outside on the fire escape and said a heartfelt prayer. Heaven, breathed life into Janice. With a little kick, the blanket fell off and Janice’s story of strength, determination, and endurance blessed many of our lives through her 91 years.

Janice tells the story of her favorite first grade teacher Miss Ashcroft. Janice loved school and learning. When fourth grade rolled around, her teacher determined that Janice should be advanced to the 5th grade. Her dad was concerned that she might miss some important curriculum by skipping grades, so he had Janice do both 4th and 5th grade curriculums during that school year. Janice continued her academic success and graduated from South Cache High School. She was selected as the Valedictorian of her 1950 graduating class.

After high school Janice pursued a career in nursing at McKay-Dee School of Nursing. She received her BSN at the U of U. Part of her nursing training involved working in Colorado as part of her public health rotation, she often shared memories of this experience with her family.

Janice practiced as a nurse at Utah Valley Hospital and Mountain View Hospital in Payson. Many families tell how grateful they were for Janice’s gentle and expert care, making their experience at the hospital more bearable due to her skill and kindness. She was a professor of nursing at B.Y.U (as a side note, she also taught math to the BYU football players). She was also a professor in the nursing program at Utah Technical College and Utah Valley State College (UVSC). She received her Masters of Nursing from B.Y.U. Prior to retiring from UVSC. Janice spent many years collaborating with other nursing professors creating the new nursing curriculum that was adopted by the college as it moved to become a university. Janice retired in April of 1998.

Janice held many church callings including being on the Orem West Stake Primary Board, a Primary teacher, a Primary Scout Leader, numerous Relief Society callings, one she enjoyed was being the Cultural Refinement Leader, Laurels Advisor, Young Adult leader in Benjamin, Provo Temple Worker and Temple Shift Supervisor. Janice loved serving in the temple. She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

If you are reading this, Janice possibly made your wedding cake as she made hundreds of them. She was well known for her beautiful wedding cakes. She also made baptism and ordination cakes for her grandchildren.

If you spent any time talking to Janice, she would find a connection with you or your family. You would soon become part of her family! Janice served her community, her neighbors and her friends with unconditional love. She gave everything.

She was preceded in death by her sweetheart Lee Niels Jensen; son Nathan Jensen; her parents Ida and J. Mat Christensen, her in-laws Niels and Emma Jensen; Brothers; Alan Christensen, Fred Christensen, John Christensen, and sister Karen (Leslie) Richards; in-laws Ralph & Noreen Olsen, James & Carol Olsen, and Sharon Jensen.

Janice is survived by her children: Lisa (Nathan’s wife), Kristine(John), Clark(Nanette), Warren, David(Coby), Joseph(Monique), and Ellis(Patrice). Along with their bonus son, Marty(Chelley) Hunsaker. 19 (+4 bonus) grandchildren and 21(+ 7 bonus) great-grandchildren. Janice loved her daughter-in-laws as if they were her own children.

She is also survived by her brother David Christensen(Linda), sister-in-laws Mary Christensen & Audrey Richardson, and brother-in-law Ellis Jensen.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening, April 2, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 114 South 400 West in Orem, Utah. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 3, at 11:00 AM at the same location.. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the church.

Interment will be at the Benjamin City Cemetery.