Alvena Anne Jensby's Obituary
Alvena Anne Johansen Jensby of Garland, Texas died on November 16, 2024 at the age of 94. A service will be held on Monday, December 16 at 10 a.m. at Woodcreek Church, 3400 East Renner Road, Richardson, TX 75082.
Anne was born on June 3, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Anton and Caroline Boyd Johansen, who met while working at an Indian reservation in North Dakota. Growing up during the Depression money was scarce, but her mother invented games for Anne and her brother Larry to play, like trying to avoid being tagged by the “L” headlights shining in their apartment as the train passed. Anne would show the same creativity in games for her children. Caroline died when Anne was 12 and Larry was 10. Without any family living nearby to assist with care, they went to live at the Baptist Children’s Home for a year until Anton remarried. Most of her memories of that year are hard, but Anne throughout her life displayed a grateful, cheerful attitude. She gave thanks in all things and displayed that peace that passes all understanding.
She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Duncan George Jensby, on June 24, 1950. They were blessed with five children, whom they raised in Wood Dale, Illinois and Somerville, New Jersey before settling in North Texas. Anne saw her children as a loan from the Lord, and often stated that her job was to prepare them to be responsible, independent adults grounded in faith.
Anne received her Associate in Arts and Sciences degree from Richland College in Dallas. She began playing the piano in grade school, and some evenings she would play the piano while Duncan played the trumpet. She served as the pianist and organist at church and also directed and sang in the choir. Line dancing was another of Anne’s hobbies and she spent many years teaching classes at the Garland Senior Activity Center.
Anne cherished her role as a grandma and the special memories she made with her grandchildren, who always knew they were without a doubt loved, supported and prayed for throughout every phase of life. She managed to be both the loving, nurturing grandma while also being the fun grandma who loved practical jokes and line dancing in the living room. Her grandchildren loved getting to watch their own children grow to know and adore their great-grandma too.
Anne was preceded in death by her parents, brother Larry Johansen, husband of 62 years Duncan, and sons Lane Jensby and Paul Jensby. She is survived by her sister-in-law Phyllis Johansen; daughters Carol DeMarco and Christine (Taylor) Swain, and son Lloyd (Lilly) Jensby; grandchildren Tim (Ann Vo) DeMarco, Samantha (Daniel) Morgan, Nathan (Ginny) Jensby, Anton Jensby, Caitlin Swain, Michal (Ben Smith) Jensby, Cheyenne Inmon, and Erin Jensby; great-grandchildren Olivia Young, Teagen Jensby, Silas Morgan, Layton Jensby, Collins Jensby, Griffin Jensby, Hazel Inmon, Betty Jensby, and Kimball Smith.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to organizations near and dear to Anne’s heart: Moody Bible Institute - 820 N. La Salle Dr., Chicago, IL 60610 or Woodcreek Church - 3400 E. Renner Rd., Richardson, TX 75082.
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