Mary Lausanne Daines

Mary Lausanne “Zonnie” Daines passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025. She was born on June 6, 1934, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Margaret and Norman Forsberg.

Zonnie received her lifelong nickname from her older brother Steve, who, as a child, struggled to pronounce her middle name, Lausanne. He affectionately shortened it to “Zonnie,” a name that quickly caught on and remained with her throughout her life.

Zonnie grew up in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake City, attending Highland Park Elementary, Irving Middle School, and South High School. She worshiped with her family in the Stratford Ward. A talented artist from an early age, she took art classes at the Art Barn in Salt Lake City and briefly attended the University of Utah.

At the age of 16, Zonnie met Welden Daines. Three years later, they fell in love and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on March 12, 1954. The couple began their married life in Arcadia, California, and in 1961, they moved to a new home in Bountiful, Utah, where they planted deep roots and lived for the next 64 years.

Together, Zonnie and Welden raised four sons—Scott, Allyn, Brent, and Richard. She often said her greatest accomplishment in life was giving birth to and raising four strong-willed, independent boys. Family was everything to Zonnie, and her most cherished relationships extended to her 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends. She had a remarkable gift for making everyone she met feel valued, loved, and like her favorite person. She nurtured those relationships with family traditions of birthday parties, and trips to Flaming Gorge, Island Park, and Mexico. She made lutefisk and cornbread muffins for Christmas breakfast to carry on her Swedish heritage. All these efforts were to build relationships and lasting bonds with her family.

Zonnie was a gifted artist, and her paintings will be treasured heirlooms in the homes of her family. She passed on her artistic talent to several granddaughters, teaching them to paint—and to laugh—with joy and confidence.

She lived a life full of adventure, traveling the world with Welden. She devoted her time and energy to causes she was passionate about, including the League of Women Voters and board member for The Festival of Trees. She continued the lifelong pursuit of learning from quilting to sewing and handwork and was a founding member of FEM LLC (friends earning money) investment group.

Though her life was rich with love and service, it was not without hardship. She faced adversity with grace, courage, and her ever-present warm, radiant smile. In 1997, Zonnie endured the heartbreaking and unexpected loss of her first son Scott. In 2016, she lost her best friend and love of her life, Welden, to cancer. Later in life, she gradually lost her valued independence as macular degeneration took her vision, preventing her from reading, painting, and driving. Through it all, she always stayed optimistic. She often said, “You never really recover from the loss of a child or a husband. The pain never goes away or softens—you just learn to take things one day at a time and live with the heartache.”

Zonnie will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her love, kindness, and gentle wisdom leave a legacy of compassion and light. Her family and friends will always remember her for her encouraging words, infectious smile, and the way she made each person feel uniquely loved.

She is survived by her sons Allyn (Cindy), Brent (Tearsa), and Richard (Andra), her 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a host of devoted friends. She was welcomed home by Welden and Scott, her parents, Norman and Margaret, brother Steve, and sister Sylvia.

The Daines family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, CNAs, and staff at Whisper Cove Assisted Living in Kaysville, Utah, for their devoted and compassionate care over the past three years. Zonnie loved them all dearly and took an interest in their lives. And in her kind spirit, always provided them with a Laffy Taffy as they left her room.

A graveside service will be held Monday, July 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn (2350 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City), preceded by a visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

The graveside services will be live-streamed via Zoom and can be accessed by clicking the "Watch Services" button above.