Connie Jeanne Larsen

Connie Jeanne Larsen, 77, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, returned home unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. She passed peacefully, surrounded by family. An extraordinary woman with an unparalleled capacity to love, she will be greatly missed.

Born April 6, 1948, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Jeanne Matheson and Joseph Max Hughes, Connie Jeanne was the oldest of six children and was deeply loved by her parents and siblings (Diane, Jordan, JoLynn, Allen, and Teresa). She was raised in the Harvard/Yale area of Salt Lake City, Utah. She had a close relationship with her grandparents who lived next door and often spoke of her grandmother as her confidant.

Connie Jeanne had a wonderful childhood with many friends and close cousins. She loved family caravan trips to national parks and other destinations, swimming at the original Deseret Gym and in neighborhood pools, participating in synchronized swimming, sewing, going to Pioneer Memorial Theater productions, Saturday family workdays, and taking the city bus to the Salt Lake City library.

Connie Jeanne attended East High School where she served as Historian in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seminary program. During her youth, she was active in various clubs and was the school’s Sterling Scholar in Home Economics. Church activity included teaching in Primary and participating in annual roadshows.

At the University of Utah, Connie Jeanne earned her bachelor’s degree with a composite major in Home Economics with a History minor. This minor was part of her love of reading biographies and learning about historical figures. She was very active in the Lambda Delta Sigma sorority. Connie Jeanne was fortunate to have worked during college as a dental assistant to her uncle Ted Sperry. She also loved working at the Bryce Canyon lodge for two summers and was on a European Study Tour when man first walked on the moon.

Connie Jeanne met Clyde Larsen on the U of U campus through mutual friends. Theirs was an immediate, deep, and eternal love. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple by then Elder Harold B. Lee on July 10, 1970. Connie Jeanne and Clyde have had a mutually supportive and loving marriage, celebrating their 55th anniversary on July 10, 2025. They have sustained each other in their work, their Church callings, and Clyde’s fishing expeditions. They have eight children: Sarah Jeanne, Joseph (Ruth Ann), Julie Zanotti (Jim), Steven (Nicole), Michael, Cherie Lynn Sadowski, Mark (Hillary), and Laurie Ann. They have 28 grandchildren.

Connie Jeanne loves family! She consistently taught her children to love and support each other, to be loyal and united. It was not only her gift but her mission to build up and keep her family together, for big events, everyday moments, and in their hearts. The family lived on the 1900 block of Michigan Avenue for 44 years, expanding the home as their family expanded. She established and enjoyed numerous family traditions such as extended family dinners, holiday gatherings, family trips, supporting each other at sporting events, drama productions, music performances, service projects, and participating in family councils. Their 15-passenger van was well-used.

Even as her children have moved to various parts of the country and world, Connie Jeanne and Clyde have continued to attend as many family events and daily life activities as possible. Family reunions became an established tradition both for her immediate family and extended family.

When her parents died, Connie Jeanne became the loving matriarch of the Hughes family. She was a phenomenal grandmother. She shared her heart, time, stories, and wisdom with each grandchild individually. She had substantive conversations with them and never missed acknowledging a family birthday or anniversary. The grandchildren adore their grandmother.

Connie Jeanne had a great inner strength and a calmness in knowing who she was. She provided a warm and safe haven for anyone who needed it. All have been welcome in her home, and in her heart. Whether a family member, a friend, or even a new acquaintance, she provided warmth, compassion, and usually a hug.

Connie Jeanne had a special love for all young people and was a staunch and steady advocate for their needs. As an educator, Connie Jeanne taught at Kennedy Jr. High, South High School, and West High School. She was a pioneer for the gifted and talented, championing and launching the International Baccalaureate Program for the State of Utah. She received multiple educational awards and traveled the world to train others. Despite her many accomplishments, she cared infinitely more about all “her kids”. For nearly 20 years at West High, she also became a school counselor, mentor, and friend. Her impact on hundreds of students cannot be underestimated. She invested deeply and personally, loving them as her own, and inspiring them to reach their potential.

She also loved older people and looked after and provided for their needs, such as regularly providing meals to some of her dear neighbors. She loved leading in the local DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers) camp because she wanted to provide a great experience for the members of the camp. She had a genuine gift of loving others, of making everyone feel that they were exceptionally important to her, and they were. She saw people for who they were and accepted them as they were while encouraging and supporting them to be their best self. She has shown her love and thoughtfulness through hundreds, maybe thousands, of hand-written notes to family and friends. Connie Jeanne was a force for good!

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Connie Jeanne served wherever the Lord needed her, including the Primary, Young Women’s, Relief Society, Scouts and Sunday School. She loved studying the gospel together with her husband and believed in living and following Christ-like attributes and always testifying of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness. Connie Jeanne absolutely loved going to the temple and providing service there.

Connie Jeanne and Clyde were fortunate to serve four missions together. Salt Lake Inner City Mission (2010-2012), Vanuatu PEF Service Center Mission (Jan 2013 - Dec 2014), Washington DC North Temple Mission (Sep 2016 - Sep 2017), and the Hawaii Honolulu Mission (Jun 2020 - Jun 2021). Their Hawaii mission as academic counselors was completed remotely due to COVID.

On Monday, July 14, 2025, Connie Jeanne suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Connie Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Max & Teresa Jeanne Matheson Hughes, and her brother Jordan Matheson Hughes. She is survived by her husband Clyde L. Larsen, four siblings and their spouses — Diane Hughes, JoLynn & Richard Reese, Allen M. & Mary Louise Romney Hughes, Teresa & Rich McIntosh — eight children and their spouses and children — Sarah Jeanne Larsen (Alex Beck, Jacob Beck), Joseph Max & Ruth Ann Ramsey Larsen (Emi, Ella, Max, Zoe, Ada), Julie & Jim Zanotti (Michael, Lara, Andrew, Rebecca), Steven & Nicole Reitz Larsen (Erec, Korin, Thomas, Joshua, Alanna), Michael Larsen (Maddie, James), Cherie Lynn Sadowski (Kate, Jane, Elizabeth), Mark Allen & Hillary Rock Larsen (Blake, Phoebe, Maggie, Ruby), and Laurie Ann Larsen (Connor George, Lucy George, Londyn George), and many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the West High AP/IB Success Fund. (http://west.slcschools.org/community/make-a-donation)

Those wishing to view the service via Zoom can click "Watch Service" or follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/n7T3y_Z5UVnA6HeabvK471uTZiWlue06e0oxT4l6hRAnOduvBODNlIeyk9wal5Id.dj7BLiET1TpHSkn-?startTime=1753202018000