Selma "Sunny" Vance-Lauritzen

Selma (“Sunny”) Vance-Lauritzen passed away suddenly on August 14, 2024 after battling several health issues following the death of her husband in 2020. She was a fighter to the end, and her family will miss her dearly.

Sunny was born on November 6, 1951 at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, daughter to Bette Fahring Vance and E. Gale Vance. A few years after Sunny was born, she would become a big sister to David Vance. Following her graduation from Olympus high school, Sunny attended Utah State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s in speech language pathology.

While attending Utah State, she met her first husband, Bruce Lauritzen. The two were married in 1977 at Snowbird Ski Resort. Together they had one son, J. D. Lauritzen (Kari Yurth).

After moving back to Utah from South Bend, Indiana, where Sunny worked at a hospital with children, she began her career in speech pathology. She would eventually go on to work at the Western Rehabilitation Institute in various capacities and then the University of Utah Hospital as its Administrative Director of Neuro / Rehabilitation for 17 years. Her unbending desire to serve others was forever on display, whether it was helping advance the careers of her many coworkers and the hospital’s rehab center or serving with other organizations like Junior League of Salt Lake City, the Assistance League of Salt Lake City, and the Utah Tennis Association. Those that knew Sunny professionally have always said that she had an incredible ability to grow those around her.

While working at the university, Sunny met her second husband, David Strand. She and Dave were married in Italy in 2006. The two enjoyed many happy years together. Unfortunately, Dave was paralyzed in the spring of 2016 after an injury at their home. As was her nature, Sunny cared tirelessly for Dave until his passing in August 2020. She showed so much compassion and understanding during those hard times, even if that meant foregoing her own needs for the needs of her ailing husband. Her courage and perseverance in caring for Dave was inspiring to many.

After Dave’s passing, Sunny experienced a broken heart, dealing with several different health ailments until her untimely passing. Despite what she was going through, she continued to care deeply for others, including her new friends that she made at The Ridge. Her selflessness knew no bounds, and that was evident right up until her death. She will forever be our hero, and we will do our best to carry on her attitude of service.

Sunny is survived by her son and brother. She was preceded in death by her parents and second husband.

Services will be held at Larkin Mortuary Sunset Gardens on Friday, August 23, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Friends and family may visit from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024 prior to the service. Interment will be at Larkin Mortuary Sunset Gardens.

To watch a recording of the service, please click on the tab above that says "Watch Service" or follow this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/G4VAWwHA6IkPJR1ua5R-AuiGL4CecTgrgyAz793VSz-wgAWKFCCcVRwBHUE47NU.Y3mr4nOg7sQRyZ21?startTime=1724441650000