Janet Kelly

Our beloved sister, aunt, and friend, Janet Kelly passed away on September 8, 2025, after a debilitating decade of dementia. She was born in Boise, Idaho on July 19, 1951, to Marie Kathrine Larsen and Joe P Kelly. She graduated from Utah State University in medical technology and worked at LDS Hospital in one of their labs. Janet served a welfare service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indonesia. After her mission, she returned to Salt Lake City where she worked with the 3M company and the Veterans Administration. 

Janet had a firm testimony of the gospel throughout her life and served in many capacities including ward and stake Primary President, ward Relief Society President, a counselor in the stake Relief Society, and many other callings. She loved her family, hosting family parties including Thanksgiving for many years, compiling regular installments of Kelly Kronicles (an extended family newsletter), and spending time with her nieces and nephews. She traveled extensively with her sister and best friend Christine to many countries, to Disney parks, and on different cruise ships including a trip to Antarctica.

 In 2014, Janet retired from work and fulfilled a lifelong dream with her sister Christine. They built a home together near the Jordan River Temple and served there as ordinances workers. They were embraced by the neighborhood and members of the River Ridge 2nd Ward. After Christine passed away in 2021, Janet moved to a long-term care facility Spring Gardens in Holladay. We are grateful for the watchful care the staff provided for Janet during her stay. 

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Patricia Huff and Christine Kelly, and her brother-in-law Jan Christensen. She is survived by her brother-in-law Duane Huff, her sisters Jolynn (Gene) Christiansen, Ruth Christensen and Kathrine Perry. Though Janet never married, she had the love of 34 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. She supported them at church baptisms, missionary farewells and homecomings, marriages, and gladly attended to their everyday needs. Her kind, loving influence truly blessed their lives. 

A graveside service with limited seating will be held Friday, September 19, 2025 at Memorial Cemetery 3115 East Bengal Blvd beginning at 2:00 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring a chair.