Jeanette Isabel Svenson

Encircled by family, our Mom, Jeanette Svenson, followed the light to the arms of Jesus on June 6, 2023. Jeanette is survived by her seven children (and their spouses), Carlene (Paul) Bratach, Wayne (Wendi) Svenson, Sandy (Mark) Teets, Susan (Scott) Tarbox, David (Jen) Svenson, Jennifer (John) Barnes and Dawn (Randy) Rimer, who will forever miss their mother. Jeanette is also survived by two brothers, Clarence Lederhos and Joeseph Lederhos, 16 grandchildren, 21-2/3 great grandchildren (another due in September), and 69 nieces and nephews. She had friends too numerous to count from all walks of life and shared her smile with all.

Mom was born to Margaret and Joseph Lederhos in Hays, Kansas on 18 June 1933, the 7th of 11 children. The Lederhos family moved to Denver in 1941. She contracted polio in her teens and conquered the disease, despite being in an iron lung for three months. Mom’s devotion to family became evident when her father was diagnosed with cancer when she was 17; she began working as a nurse’s aid to help support her family. She met her future husband, Wayne, an airman stationed at Lowry AFB, in 1955 at a USO dance. Her brothers, Clarence and Joe, have fond memories of tagging along on roller skating dates with Wayne and Jeanette at Mammoth Gardens. Mom and Dad married in 1955 and began creating their family of 7 children. Over the next 20 years, they traveled the world while stationed at Air Force bases in the U.S. and Germany. In 1968, Dad received orders to Viet Nam and thus, our family returned to Denver so Mom could be near family during his absence. After that tour of duty, we were fortunate that Dad was stationed at Lowry AFB and our family was able to remain in Lakewood. Jeanette and Wayne were happily married for 52 years, until his death in 2008.

CEO of All Things Domestic, would be the perfect job title for our mom! She could easily be considered an early pioneer of environmentalism, albeit in her case, it was frugality and good common sense. Nobody made a holiday dinner like Mom; a tradition that has carried on to her children and grandchildren. In recent years, our family had grown too large to celebrate holidays en masse, necessitating breaking off into smaller factions. By the grace of God, and without knowing 2022 would be our Mom’s last holidays, the majority of us were able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas together with her one last time.

While Mom was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren, she had such a zest for life! She shared her uplifting smile with everyone and her laugh was so contagious. Mom enjoyed gatherings with friends and polka dancing (picture her and Dad as the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of the Edelweiss Club). Her love of travel continued throughout her life, both in the U.S. and abroad. As Mom got older, her fierce sense of determination was only emboldened. She couldn't swim, was even fearful of water, but give her a life jacket and she was off on a jet ski or the slide of a houseboat. In her earlier 70’s, she straddled the back of David’s Harley a few times, including a ride from Lakewood to Boulder and she didn’t melt her shoes! Mom hiked to the top of Green Mountain several times in her 70’s and 80’s. Outings ‘up the hill’ (Central City) with her brother Joe and his wife, Paula, were enjoyed a few times a year.

Her devotion to her family ensured that we were raised with strong family values, holiday traditions, and faith. She died a very wealthy woman in the riches that are most important: FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.

Mom was firm in her love for God; she was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church since 1989 and served on the Funeral Ministry Committee for many of those years. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and helped out in the church office for a few years.

Services will be June 22, 2023 at Our Lady of Fatima, 1985 Miller, Lakewood, viewing at 10:00 a.m, followed by the rosary at 10:30, mass at 11:00, and a reception immediately following the service. Private interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery on June 26, 9:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Catholic Charities of Denver, ccdenver.org.