Edith Carlsen

PROVIDENCE – Edith E. Carlsen, 83 passed away peacefully May 25, 2013 at home surrounded by her loving family and husband of 59 years. Edith was born in Lyngaa, Aarhus Denmark on May 18, 1930, the third of ten children born to Axel and Johanne Nielsen Sorensen. During the German occupation of Denmark during WW II, the family was moved to Aalborg so her Father could support airport construction. At 12 years old, Edith began working in a childrens hospital, eventually becoming a Nurse in the hospital delivery wing. At the age of 20, Edith moved to Kolling Denmark, joined the LDS church and with her skills in child care, had the opportunity to Nanny in the United States. At the age of 22, not knowing any English, immigrated to the United States, finding her way to California.
During a Danish mission reunion in Salt Lake City, Edith met and fell in love with Dennis M. Carlsen. Dennis convinced Edith to spend her two weeks of vacation with him back home in Bear Lake, ID. During the end of this visit, Dennis received his draft notice to appear for boot camp in three days. Dennis and Edith became engaged and during a time of leave, were married in the Logan LDS temple Feb 19, 1954.
Together Dennis and Edith raised six children in their Providence home: Loretta (Kim Frederick), Debbie Carlsen, Mike (Shelley) Carlsen, Lisa (Ivan Sharp), Brent (Monique) Carlsen, Kent (Maika) Carlsen. They have 16 (17 any minute now) grand children and 8 great grandchildren. Edith is survived by four sisters: Britta Tjagvad, Birgit (Helmut Koch), Kamma Larsen, Irene Jensen and one brother Kai Sorensen.
Edith was always a remarkable example of what hard work, kindness and service can accomplish in this world. She will perhaps be most remembered by thousands of women as the pretty blonde lady in Bernina with the accent, who was always very well dressed and helped them pick out their dress or baby fabric. As Dennis acquired the Bernina sewing machine dealership, Edith added fabric to the business and together they founded Bernina/Stylish Fabrics. With an eye for fashion and a desire to bring the finer things to Utah, the business expanded to include the Rosella Manor reception center in Providence (Old rock church), the Scarlet Rose gift shop, and several Stylish Fabrics stores in the Salt Lake Valley. Even after the business was sold to Mike, Edith took great pleasure in arriving at the store before opening hours to walk around the store, straighten bolts of fabric, offer her recommendations, and pick up supplies for her mini sewing factory at her home in Providence. Edith loved to sew and machine quilt. As Parkinson disease increasingly made sewing difficult in later years, a visit to her house at 6:00 AM or 6:00 PM, one could still find her in her sewing area preparing or finishing another quilt. This was usually after she had started baking cinnamon rolls at 4:30 AM and sent Dennis out for deliveries to any house with a light on.
Edith was a true lady, and an example of Christ like behavior in loving thy neighbor.
A viewing will be held on Thursday May 30, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary 34 E. Center and from 11:30-12:30 prior to the funeral service.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM Friday, May 31 at the Providence 10th Ward LDS Chapel, 355 Canyon road, Providence with Bishop Reed Ernstrom conducting. Internment will be in the Providence City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net