Jenaveve (née Jean) Arnoldus, 69, died of a heart attack November 28, 2022 at home in Salt Lake City. Her beloved roommate, Cate Wallace, was with her and cared for her through her sudden passing.
Jenaveve was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Jan 31, 1953 to Franklin Lee and LaPreel Redford Sorensen Arnoldus. She grew up in Ogden, Utah and Palo Alto, California.
Jenaveve discovered a love for drama in her youth that she nurtured through much of her life. A talent scout who attended her year-end high school play attempted to recruit her to pursue acting but she decided against it. She participated in many community and church plays, including playing the role of Baroness in a community production of The Sound of Music, the role of Lucy Mack Smith in the Oakland Temple Pageant, and directing several church productions including road shows and an adaptation of Mary Poppins. She also loved to sing in her church choir.
Jenaveve married John Taylor on August 21, 1973 and together they had three children, one of whom passed away in infancy. Jenaveve worked hard to create a loving home for her children. She could be counted on for support of last-minute projects and long conversations dealing with
the emotions of the day. She plied her family with healthy food, with a generous dose of tofu and a dependable reliance on whole wheat everything. Jenaveve brought an artistic flair to everything she did. She took community courses in drawing and sculpture. A lifelike bust of
Einstein she made for her sculpture class held an honored place on the family piano for many years.
Jenaveve continued her education while raising her children, then went on to graduate from J. Reuben Clark Law School. Frequent all-nighters and long work days helped her keep up with her young classmates and showcase the wholehearted devotion she gave to anything she worked on. She worked as a lawyer and then as a mediator, a role she valued highly. She was the executive director of Utah Dispute Resolution, a nonprofit organization offering mediation services and training, from 2016 to her passing. During her time there she took pride in the work she did to revamp training programs and move all of their services to a digital platform so they could continue their cause despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jenaveve served in many teaching and leadership capacities including Seminary and Gospel Doctrine teacher, Young Women and Relief Society teacher, Young Women and Relief Society counselor and president,
and ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple. She made an impact on many lives and is remembered for her warmth and her kindness, her smile and her generosity, and her discernment.
Jenaveve loved animals and had a variety of pets over the years. Her cat, Zacharias, was her beloved companion the final year of her life. He was a main feature of the pictures and stories he shared with her children and grandchildren.
Jenaveve is survived by her daughters Amy Taylor (Steven) Sullivan of Oxford, Ohio and Jessica Taylor (Andrew) Nord of Merrimack, New Hampshire; her grandchildren Anna, Eliza, and Ian Sullivan of Oxford, Ohio and Allison, David, Samuel, and Caleb Nord of Merrimack,
New Hampshire; her siblings Diana Voss of American Fork, Utah, Clint (Lesley) Arnoldus of Holladay, Utah, and Joan Kuba of Boise, Idaho; and her beloved cat, Zacharias. She is also survived by former husband John Taylor of Mesa, Arizona.
Jenaveve is preceded in death by her son, David Ryan Taylor; her parents, Lee and LaPreel Arnoldus; and her brother-in-law, Neil Voss.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on December 10, 2022 at the stake center located at 135 A Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to causes Jenaveve strongly supported: Dahlia’s Hope and Operation Underground Railroad.
I am an attorney who attended a mediation course taught by Jenaveve. I found her to be very insightful intellectually and also a very warm, amiable, hospitable, empathetic personality extremely well suited to teaching and exemplifying the role of mediator and peacemaker. Her sudden death was a shock and a reminder to me not to take our associations in life for granted because we never know when such will end. I will miss Jeneveve as a friend and I know her absence will leave a big hole in the Utah legal community. My condolences to both her family and to her colleagues and others who relied on her contributions at work and in the community.
So sorry to hear this news! I am a lawyer and participated in several mediations with Jenaveve- she always did a great job and seemed tireless to get to agreements. It is a difficult task and she was always so warm and encouraging with people- I know they felt heard which is a big part of being a successful mediator. She will be missed!
I never met her in person, only though zoom, but I could felt he kind spirit and love
I was in Jenaveve's law school class and was thrilled when she took over Utah Dispute Resolution. She was such a kind, wise, talented, and fun person. It was always a joy to be in her company. So sad for her loss!
Jenaveve was my boss and one my biggest supporters. It hurts to not have her with us anymore and to still feel like she is a call away. Jenaveve thought the best about people, she was kind, she was caring, she was selfless. I think her mission in life was to be a helping hand, a listening ear, and a teacher of humanness and moral goodness. To me, she was an angel in one of the hardest times of my life. Jenaveve built the best team at UDR and she was not only our leader but our inspiration. She could figure out anything, and she fully immerse herself in her mission and work. UDR was renewed and nurtured by her. We, her team, are so lucky to have had her! Thank you Jenaveve, you’ll forever be in my heart.
I am so grateful to have had the privilege of growing up with Jenaveve. I remember her example of piety and perseverance. She was lovely, talented, intelligent, as well as spirited and I will miss her greatly. My deepest sympathy goes to her daughters; Jessica and Amy. We will all be reunited someday with our dear Savior, and I look forward to that beautiful day.
I had the privilege of working closely with Jenaveve at Utah Dispute Resolution in 2019 and 2020. She was an unfailing source of optimism and encouragement to those around her. She faced challenges with a can-do attitude and worked diligently to make UDR a welcoming and supportive place. Besides her charisma, Jenaveve was also quick to show compassion and care to those around her. And her laugh was magnetic! She really did light up the room wherever she was. I am truly sorry to her family for your loss. May your memories of her stay bright and keep you warm during the coming weeks, months, and years.
I was so stunned and saddened to learn of this today. I knew Jenaveve many years ago, and she had a special bright inner light that was such a pleasure to be around. I had a chance to be around her love for, and talent in, theater, a special treat for all those who were around it, too. I was at her home when I learned of my brother's suicide, and it's hard to imagine a better person to have been around; her sensitivity and kindness were the anchor I could hold on to that first day. This is now 2024, and while time does heal, there are still very hard days for those who loved her. I wish for them many joyous memories for those hard days, and peaceful hearts.