Oct. 29, 1939 – July 6, 2019

Marvene Larson, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 6 a few months shy of her 80th birthday.

Marvene was born in Van Nuys on Oct. 29, 1939 on the 10-year anniversary of her parents, Andrew and Frances Olsen. Living nearly all of her childhood in the San Fernando Valley and Tujunga, Marvene graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in the Winter Class of 1957.  She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles, concurrent with training at the California Hospital School of Nursing.

Marvene and James Larson were married on Aug. 21, 1960 in Los Angeles. They took up residence in Montrose before purchasing their first and only home in La Crescenta in 1965. While Jim tended to the family business, Kimmel-Meehan Clothiers in Montrose, Marvene saw to the upbringing of their three daughters, Erica, Ingrid and Anna. Once the girls were all in elementary school, Marvene returned to nursing as a school nurse, first for the Glendale Unified School District and then for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

After all of her daughters left for college, Marvene pursued her master’s in public health from California State University, Northridge. She also became fluent in Spanish, even immersing herself in a six-week course near Mexico City so that she could better communicate with all of the students who came into her nurse’s office.  After a 25-plus year career, Marvene retired from school nursing in 2002, although she maintained her credentials for many years after. Additionally, she enjoyed attending annual reunions with her nursing classmates, traveling as far as Hawaii.

Marvene was a faithful member of La Crescenta Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon, elder, choir and bell-choir member. Her friends at LCPC were her second family.

Marvene was predeceased by her parents Andrew and Frances Olsen. Marvene is survived by her husband James; daughters Erica (Eric) Bachman, Ingrid (Michael) Braun, and Anna (Scott) Newton; grandchildren Rachel Bachman, Miriam Bachman, Daniel Bachman, Cole Newton and Emma Newton; sister Kathryn Yanov and two great-nephews Chris and Keith Yanov.

Marvene will be remembered for her quiet strength, thirst for higher learning, intelligence and organizational skills, the love for her husband of 59 years, her blue eyes and tiny ankles, beach camping with church family, dedication to her nursing career, and passing along to her three daughters the gift of capability and fierce independence.

The family would like to thank the caring doctors and nursing staff of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital for their dedicated care during her final few weeks of life. 

A memorial service celebrating the life of Marvene is planned for Saturday, Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta.  All are welcome!

To honor Marvene’s memory, please consider a donation to Family Promise of the Verdugos, a non-profit, interfaith hospitality network that helps situationally homeless families regain housing, independence and dignity in a time of need. Donations can be made at the service, on the giving page of LCPC.net or familypromiseverdugos.org.