Barbara L. Larsen

Barbara L. Larsen passed away after a long battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on May 27, 2013. She was born in Chicago, IL, on October 30, 1937. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Roy of almost 49 years (he died 2 months ago); her parents, Frank and Margaret Van Duyse and nephew, Richard Ciesynski. After graduating from Chicago Teachers’ College, she went on to get 2 Master’s Degrees and taught elementary school in Chicago for 35 years. She was Teacher of the Year in the Hispanic Community in 1994 and received a glowing letter commendation from Mayor Richard J. Daley. After meeting Roy, the love of her life in 1962, they married in 1964. They retired to Sun Lakes, AZ. Their life was filled with international travel and square dancing as president couple. They loved to round dance and playing bridge. Barb won the prestigious President’s Cup in golf as a member of the Sun Lakes Lady Niners in 2002. They were the consummate party givers. All of her friends just loved, adored and admired Barb for her unending kindness, compassion, humility, unassuming nature and basic goodness that permeated through her beautiful smile. Her laughter was robust and her sweetness so tangible. Her friends knew the love she shared with Roy was beyond comprehension. She is survived by her brother, Frank Van Duyse, sister, Joann Brown (Michael) and nieces and nephews, Sharon Maffei (Wayne), Michael Ciesynski (Jeanne), Kim Cusack (Jerry), Tracey Bale (Kelly), Sid Prise (Kathy Rosenfeld) and Mary Eileen Prise (Ubi Sheikh). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org or to Hospice of the Valley, www.hov.org. Visitation will be held, Monday, June 3, 2013 from 3-5 p.m. at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ. A Rosary will be said, Tuesday, June 4, 2013 with a Mass to follow at 10:00 a.m. at St. Steven’s Catholic Church, Sun Lakes, AZ. with interment to follow at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, arrangements entrusted to Valley of the Sun Mortuary & cemetery, www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com.