Grandma Utah

Colleen Rae Flynn Sorenson (February 3, 1943-July 21, 2012), wife, mother, daughter and grandmother, passed away peacefully this past Saturday, one week after escorting her mother through the LDS Temple. Her family thanks the dedicated health professionals at Logan Regional Hospital and McKay-Dee Hospital who helped her and them following her sudden brain aneurysm and hemorrhagic stroke.

Colleen was the eldest of five children born to Richard and June Flynn and she never stopped serving her parents and siblings with affection, thoughtfulness and generosity. She grew up in Salt Lake City, graduating from South High and Brigham Young University. Colleen married the love of her life, Brice K. Sorenson, on August 6, 1965 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Following five years of work and service in the Bay Area, Colleen and Brice returned to Utah to raise their children. Colleen epitomized the best elements of selfless motherhood, partnering with her husband and her Father in Heaven to rear three children who love her and miss her dearly.

Colleen inherited from her mother the philosophy that life is an adventure, and she made the most of it. She and her husband decided early in life to not delay until retirement experiences that could be had today. For this reason, she continually sought opportunities to discover new places to visit and foods to try – which discoveries she was always quick to share with her loved ones. Her children had difficulty keeping up with her.

One of Colleen’s unique gifts in life was to recognize the needs of those around her. She was fervently dedicated to serving others, especially her family. The brevity of life does not permit time to recount the thoughts, words and deeds she shared for the betterment of those with whom she came in contact. Colleen truly lived according to the admonition of James to be a doer of the word, practicing a pure and undefiled religion. She lovingly fulfilled many church assignments throughout her life in her wards and stakes, in addition to serving her neighbors and community. She conducted her service wholeheartedly, with a keen sense and insight of how to best comfort and help those in need, with no thought for herself. She continually expressed her testimony of God through serving others as Christ would.

From 2006-2011, Colleen and Brice worked tirelessly as welfare service missionaries in the Ensign 20th Ward, donating their time, talents and energies to helping many of God’s children who, although lost to the world, were not lost to God or them. Colleen spent the last week of her life helping her father adjust better to life’s daily challenges.

Although Colleen’s death leaves a gaping hole in the lives of her friends and family, they are encouraged and strengthened by her own testimony in the reality of God and the joyous reunion that awaits them.

Colleen is survived by her husband, Brice; her parents, Richard and June Flynn; her children Kirsten (David) Mullins, Tyler (Kimberley) Sorenson, and Lance (Ashleigh) Sorenson; her grandchildren Jake Mullins, Kennedy Sorenson, Emmeline Mullins, Malakai Sorenson, Jack Sorenson, Katherine Mullins, Rori Sorenson, Ella Sorenson and Zuri Rae Sorenson; her siblings Dennis (Johanna) Flynn, Cortney (Jeannie) Flynn, Wendy Rodriguez, and Tracy (Sandy) Jensen; and many other friends and family. She is preceded in death by her parents-in-law Keith and Maxine Sorenson and a brother-in-law, Joseph Rodriguez.

Colleen loved flowers, but would be delighted if, in lieu of flowers, donations were made to LDS Humanitarian Services, The Road Home, or the Utah Food Bank. A viewing will be held Wednesday, July 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 26 at 12:00 noon at the LDS Chapel at 4407 Fortuna Way, Salt Lake City, 84124, with a viewing from 11:00 to 11:45 prior to the services. Internment will follow the services at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive.