Janice Christensen Hedquist

Janice Christensen Hedquist was born on May 9, 1942, the third child of Harold T. Christensen and Alice Spencer (Christensen). Her siblings include Carl (oldest), Boyd (second), Larry (fourth) and Gayle (youngest). Her first five years were in Provo, Utah, where her father was a professor at Brigham Young University. Her family then moved to West Lafayette, Indiana where she attended elementary, middle school, and high school. After graduating from High School in 1960, she attended Brigham Young University. In 1961, living with her Aunt Lucille Spencer in Provo, Janice met Francis J. Hedquist while he was a graduate student at BYU. After dating for a year, they were married in the Logan Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 27, 1962. As members of the Church, she and Francis had life-long testimonies of the restored Gospel and served in a variety of callings through the years. Janice graduated from BYU in 1964 with a degree in Elementary Education, after which she briefly worked in a few schools as a kindergarten teacher. Their first son, Mark, was born in 1965. After Francis graduated in 1967, he took a job in Athens at Ohio University. Their second child, Alan, was born in 1967. Lisa, their only daughter, was born in 1969. Francis took a job as a Psychology professor at College of the Desert, and moved the family to Rancho Mirage, California in 1970 when Janice was 28. Janice then spent the next 19 years of her life at the same home as a homemaker for her growing family. Brent, the fourth child, was born in 1973. The youngest child, Daniel, was born in 1980 when Janice was 37. In 1989, the family moved with the two youngest children, Brent and Daniel, to Alpine in Utah County. In 1999, Janice and Francis purchased a retirement home in St. George (Bloomington), Utah. Their youngest son, Daniel, moved with them, and has served as primary caregiver while they experienced health-related challenges in their advancing years. Janice was diagnosed with dementia in 2023, and after just over a year of declining health, peacefully passed from mortality at home on February 21, 2025, at the age of 82. Janice was above all else a devoted Wife and Mother. She showed her love to her family deeply and individually. She also loved and spent quality time with her grandchildren. She was committed to and skilled in documenting family history, including pictures, video recordings, journals, and scrapbooks that will be a treasure for her growing posterity. She also organized several cherished family reunions. Janice loved family gatherings and celebrating the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She will be dearly missed, and we look forward to seeing her again on the other side of the veil. Janice is survived by her five children, Mark (Autasia), Alan (Gaylene), Lisa (David Dobbins), Brent (Amy), and Daniel. Grandchildren: Mark’s children: Milani (Kyle Larsen), and Alina. Alan’s Children: Carissa, Brianna, Joseph, Spencer (Helen), and Sarah. Lisa’s children: Makay (Sami), Hannah (Ryan Cook), and Maddie (Satchel Fausett). Brent’s children: Grant, Afton, Lily, Adelina, and Emily. Great grandchildren: Kaleia Larsen (Milani Larsen), Kai Uhjely, Luna Uhjely (Alina Hedquist), and Callum Cook (Hannah Cook). A Funeral Service will be held from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Mountain Time, Friday, February 28, 2025, in the chapel at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (3519 Manzanita Road, St. George, Utah 84790). A family service will be held in the Relief Society Room from 10-11 a.m. which will precede the public funeral service. A Graveside Service will be held at 2 p.m. Mountain Time, Saturday, March 1, 2025 (Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 S. Sandy, Utah 84092).

Janice Christensen Hedquist

May 9, 1942 - February 21, 2025