Veda Ann Holdsworth Hansen

Veda Ann Holdsworth Hansen, born March 3, 1951 in Salt Lake City, UT to Keith Jay Holdsworth and Donna Claire Smith, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2017 in the presence of her family.

Veda, the firstborn to her parents, was given a name and a blessing by her father. The blessing:  “We pray, our Father, that you give her charity,” and she was granted that gift in abundance. The name: Veda–yes you read it correctly, not Velda, Verda, or Vayda. She had a love/hate relationship with her name, but there was no doubt she loved and admired the person she was named for, her “granny,” Veda Chambers Smith. Veda loved genealogy and was keenly appreciative of her pioneer heritage. Veda Ann’s two beautiful daughters would also share her names: Andrea Dawn and Jessica Veda.

Veda grew up in Holladay, UT, graduating from Olympus High School, class of 1969. Veda attended BYU where she earned a degree in English, and a minor in French. At BYU she met her husband, E. Lynn Hansen. They fell in love and were married June 6, 1972 in the Salt Lake LDS temple.

Veda’s greatest desire in life was to have an eternal family, but growing a family was not easy for Lynn and Veda. She required several surgeries and medical procedures to become pregnant. Through medicine, Priesthood blessings, and prayer, they were blessed with four children: Jason Lynn Hansen (Mindi), Timothy Ethen, Andrea Dawn Christopherson (Brian), and Jessica Veda Hollingshead (Mark). Veda’s four children blessed her with 13 grandchildren. Lynn and Veda raised their family in Centerville, UT, where they lived for almost 40 years, and most recently moved to a new loving ward/neighborhood in Kaysville, UT.

After her children were raised, Veda followed in the footsteps of her grandparents who were teachers. She spent 15 years teaching English at Millcreek Junior High in Bountiful, UT. She was adored and respected by her colleagues and students. One of Veda’s hobbies was to collect quotes, one of which hung on her refrigerator: “It’s too bad that the people who really know how to run the country are busy teaching school”.

Veda loved to read. She was full of wit and intelligence. Her talents included a near-perfect mastery of Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit. Veda was an accomplished pianist. She accompanied her high school choir, many ward choirs and musical performances, and her sister Wendy who was a remarkable singer. Veda served faithfully in all her church assignments and callings. Veda was blessed with the gift of cuisine. She found joy in preparing hearty food for her loved ones, even if it meant sitting around the kitchen table correcting their grammar.

Veda was a great anonymous giver. With quiet dignity, she was often seen slipping money into people’s pockets, giving away her possessions, and arranging for service to be rendered for someone in need. Perhaps her greatest service was caring for her mother and father as they suffered for several years from Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease, respectively.

Veda had a big heart, both figuratively and literally, and ultimately an enlarged, worn out heart was the cause of her passing. As her husband, Lynn, declared just before her death, “Veda is a perfect soul.” Veda can now rest, free from the burden of her earthly body–a feeling expressed perfectly by her favorite musical, Les Miserables, “At the end of the day there's another day dawning.”

Veda, we love you dearly. Until we meet again we offer your preferred salutation, “Elbow elbow, wrist wrist wrist.”

Veda was preceded in death by her mother, father, and sister Wendy Pearson (John). Veda is survived by her husband, four children, 13 grandchildren, brother-in-law John Pearson, and brothers David (Annette) Holdsworth, Kevin (Jennifer Sorensen) Holdsworth, and Gary (Deanna) Holdsworth, and many dear family members, cousins, and friends, including her best friend Peggy Steed (Bob).

We would like to thank the tender and professional staff at McKay Dee Hospital who took special care of Veda during her final days.

A viewing will be held on Monday, March 6, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary: 1941 N. Main, Farmington, UT. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m., preceded by a viewing at 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the LDS meetinghouse: 1533 N. 1075 W. Farmington, UT. Interment at Centerville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to: The Veda Chambers and Lewis Calder Smith Scholarship Education Fund, USU University Advancement, 1420 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322.