Janelle R Larsen

Janelle R. Larsen of Discovery Bay, California, went to her eternal home on September 15, 2025. We are deeply saddened by her passing, and she leaves behind a big void. She was the daughter of Ronald and Alice Merritt, born in Manhattan, NY, raised in the Bronx, and attended high school in Sunnyvale, CA, after the family moved to California.

She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Flemming, children Monique and Isaiah, mother Alice, sisters Yollette, Valerie, Rhonda, and Robin, brothers David and Eric, and nieces Milakaa, Monique, Michelle, Tameka, and Alana, nephew Abraham, and great-nieces and -nephews, uncles and aunts, cousins, and a host of other relatives.

Flemming and Janelle were not just husband and wife, they were best of friends and had a deep bond that helped them through the trials of life. In 1983, they met at San Jose State University, California, where Flemming was an exchange student from Denmark. They married at Dragsholm Castle in Denmark in 1991 at a memorable wedding with family from both sides of the Atlantic present. Janelle was greatly loved by Flemming’s family in Denmark, including his mother, Bodil Frederiksen, and his late father, Johan Larsen, who said that after having four sons, he was elated to have a daughter.

By end of 1991, they had moved to Brussels, Belgium, and spent seven years living and working in the translation industry, and traveling around Europe, meeting life-long friends. In late 1998, they moved back to San Jose, California, where they continued the translation business. Janelle managed accounting and administrative tasks while raising the children and Flemming started working in the IT industry. They moved to Discovery Bay, California, in 2004.

Janelle was passionate in all her endeavors and was adept at finding solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. She showed her joy of learning in both academic spheres and in hands-on projects throughout her marriage. She loved her home, family, music, cooking, pets, and she had a very green thumb. Above all, she loved everything pertaining to God and our Messiah.

Janelle was full of life, had a caring and giving heart, and was very genuine. If you talked with her for a few minutes, you would know what kind of person she was. She loved to have deep, meaningful conversations with all kinds of people, when shopping, while traveling, during feasts and holy days. She also had a heart for the homeless and would speak with those she encountered and try and point them to God.

It is with the hope of the resurrection that we celebrate her life, love, and steadfast devotion to our Creator.

The funeral service will be held at Brentwood Funeral Home, 839 1st St, Brentwood, Friday, October 3, at 11 am. Janelle will then be laid to rest at Union Cemetery, 11545 Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood.